Equal rights, personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association.
The ACLU works to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender people can live openly without discrimination, and enjoy equal rights, personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association.
Victories in the courts, legislatures, and court of public opinion
The struggle for legal equality for LGBTQ people rests on several fundamental constitutional principles:
- Equal Protection is guaranteed by the 5th and 14th Amendments
- Freedom of speech and association, including the right to form social and political organizations, to socialize, to produce works of art with LGBTQ themes, and to speak out, is guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Since 1936, the ACLU has protected LGBTQ rights. Today, the ACLU brings more cases and advocacy initiatives than any other national organization does.
