LGBTQ+ Rights

The ACLU has worked for equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people for over 75 years. We fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The struggle of LGBTQ+ people for full equality is one of this generation’s most important and galvanizing civil rights movements. Despite the many advances that have been made, LGBTQ+ people continue to face discrimination in many areas of life. No federal law prevents a person from being fired or refused a job on the basis of sexual orientation. Mothers and fathers still lose child custody simply ecause they are gay or lesbian. Here in Oregon, we have faced more anti-gay ballot measures than any other state – and we fought against every single one of them. When we couldn’t defeat them at the ballot box, we brought legal challenges in court. And, while here in Oregon the state ban on marriage for same-sex couples was struck down, couples in many other states still are denied the freedom to marry.

We fought to ensure the equal protection provision of the Oregon Constitution, Article I, section 20, protected all Oregonians - including LGBTQ+ people. We continue to work to provide protection for family relationships, including fighting for the freedom to marry in Oregon; to advocate for LGBTQ+ youth and youth groups to organize and speak out; to oppose laws that criminalize sexual intimacy; to support laws that prohibit discrimination; and to preserve the right to free expression and association for LGBTQ+ people.