Press Release

(New York, December 11, 2014) — Today, with the announcement that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued guidance to health insurance companies that they are barred from discriminating against transgender individuals by denying them medically necessary treatment, Lambda Legal released the following statement by Dru Levasseur, Transgender Rights Project Director.

"This is significant news for many New Yorkers who face increased discrimination and harassment when they do not have identity documents that match who they are."

(New York) — Today, with the announcement that the New York City Council passed a bill that eliminates the surgery requirement for transgender people seeking to change the sex designation on their birth certificates, Lambda Legal released the following statement by Dru Levasseur, Transgender Rights Project Director:

(New York, December 3, 2014) - Today, less than two weeks after the announcement that Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the killing of Michael Brown, a Staten Island grand jury decided that Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who was shown on tape using a chokehold to restrain Eric Garner that ultimately led to Garner’s death, will not be indicted.

(New York, December 1, 2014) — Today, Lambda Legal HIV Project Director Scott Schoettes released a statement to commemorate World AIDS Day:

“As we look back on the beautiful people we have lost this past year, we must not only work to change the hearts and minds of the public to achieve a better understanding and broader acceptance of transgender people, but we must also fight the racism, sexism, and transphobia that is rooted in these murders.”

“We congratulate all the happy couples as South Carolina becomes the 34th state where same-sex couples may marry.” 

(Charleston, SC) — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the motion filed by South Carolina’s Attorney General  to further delay the start of marriage for same-sex couples.

“The ruling from the lower court in this case is a time-warped reading of the Constitution and neglects developments in the law, including since the Supreme Court’s decision in Windsor,”

(Charleston, SC, November 18, 2014) - Today, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit denied the State of South Carolina’s motion to stay last week’s U.S. District Court ruling striking down the state’s discriminatory marriage ban, setting the stage for marriages to begin for same-sex couples  at Noon on Thursday, November 20.  South Carolina’s Attorney General filed a motion for an emergency stay to delay marriages following a ruling by the U. S.