Anti LGBTQ+ Discrimination

Shelby v. Huntsville City Board of Education: This federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of the parents of a Black gay teenager who died by suicide after he experienced both race and anti-gay discrimination at Huntsville High School in Alabama. Public Justice joined the case and helped secure a significant settlement that included important programmatic changes to protect other LGBTQ+ students within the school district. 

Grabowski v. Arizona Board of Regents: This groundbreaking appeal established that Title IX prohibits discrimination, including harassment, based on students’ real or perceived sexual orientation. After a district court held that Supreme Court-recognized protections for LGBTQ+ people do not apply to Title IX, Public Justice represented nineteen civil rights organizations as amici on appeal and participated in oral argument. The appellate court’s important opinion adopted amici’s arguments, providing essential protections to LGBTQ+ students. 

Doe v. Crestwood School District: Public Justice represented the parent of a non-binary child subject to harassment and discriminatory discipline based on their gender identity. Together with co-counsel, Public Justice helped the family secure a favorable settlement that protected the student’s education going forward and required new policies in the school district. 

Neese v. Becerra: Public Justice wrote an amicus brief on behalf of gender justice organizations in this case. The lawsuit was filed against the head of a federal agency by Texas doctors who want to discriminate against LGBTQ+ patients, and raises legal questions that could affect the rights of LGBTQ+ students. 

Hecox v. Little and B.P.J. v. West Virginia: Public Justice has also joined efforts to support trans students’ access to athletics, including by joining amicus briefs in these two cases.