LGBTQIA+ Rights Unit
In 2015, LSHV created the LGBTQIA+ Legal Project in recognition that low-income Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals and their families face unique legal challenges. LSHV is dedicated to preserving and advancing the rights of members of the LGBTQIA+ community to live with dignity and respect. We do this through legal representation and advocacy.
- Some of the cases we handle:
- Youth
- Representing LGBTQIA+ homeless youth in preserving and obtaining necessary benefits
- Protecting LGBTQIA+ youth from bullying in schools
- Establishing a school safety plan for students threated with violence on account of his/her sexual orientation or gender identity
- Discrimination
- Representation of a client who has faced discriminatory acts in employment, housing, public accommodation and credit because of a group identity based on gender (which includes gender identity) or sexual orientation
- Family Law
- Assistance with filing Family Defense Petitions
- Orders of Protection
- Protection from Intimate Partner Violence
- Custody and Visitation arrangements
- Name and Gender Marker Changes
- Assisting clients with a name change and/or gender marker change so that one’s legal name and gender marker matches one’s gender identity
- Health
- Represent client in appeals process for a denial of medical procedure
- Preservation of medical benefits
- Income Maintenance
- Preservation of public assistance
- Social Security Disability/Supplemental Income benefits
- Estate Planning/Advanced Directives
- Assisting clients with preparation of wills, health care proxies, living wills
