National Center for Lesbian Rights

NCLR is the first national legal organization founded by women and brings a fierce, longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and to our community's most vulnerable. Today, NCLR is a leader in fighting anti-LGBTQ laws across the country, pursuing our mission of advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.

We started as pioneers. And we still are.
In 1977, a brave and determined woman—fresh out of law school and eager to make a difference—decided to put her knowledge to good use. As a legal scholar, Donna Hitchens saw the courtroom as a way to change the world. As a lesbian, she had experienced frustrations and fears—both personal and professional—and didn’t want others to suffer the same. And as a future parent, she knew she would face even more challenges ahead.

On this foundation, the National Center for Lesbian Rights was born.
Today, that pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to advance the civil and human rights of LGBTQ people continues. Each year, through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education, NCLR helps more than 5,000 LGBTQ people and their families nationwide. And our precedent-setting case victories literally re-write the law, changing the legal landscape for all LGBTQ people and families across the nation. For more that 4 decades we’ve led historic cases, and today we are still trailblazing in pursuit of justice, fairness, and legal protections for all LGBTQ people.

Making change means changing everything.
From a humble yet tenacious initial focus on addressing the overlooked discrimination against lesbians, NCLR has grown to expand its life—and law—changing work in order to advance the legal landscape for every LGBTQ person. No stone will go unturned in pursuit of our goal of achieving full and equal access to civil and human rights for all. Our programs focusing on employment, immigration, youth, elder law, transgender law, sports, marriage, relationship protections, reproductive rights, and family law create safer homes, safer jobs, and a more just world.