Lambda Legal is pleased to announce that it has received a historic $1.25 million gift from the Steans Family to support the organization’s Nonbinary and Transgender Rights Project. This commitment comes at a critical moment for the equality movement. Since 2022, federal and state legislators across the United States have introduced more than 1,300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, a large number of which target transgender people.
“Once again, the Steans Family has demonstrated their tremendous leadership as allies for the LGBTQ+ community through this generous commitment,” said Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings. “Whether helping lead the charge for marriage equality in Illinois or serving on Lambda Legal’s Board of Directors, Heather Steans and the entire Steans family are committed to helping achieve full equality for every member of our community. This extraordinary gift will ensure Lambda Legal has the ability to defend against the onslaught of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping across our nation.”
A former state senator from Illinois, Heather Steans serves on Lambda Legal’s National Board of Directors. During her time as a state senator, she partnered with Lambda Legal to help write the legislation to secure marriage equality in Illinois. As the parent of a trans child, Heather is most proud of Lambda Legal’s never-ending fight to protect access to health care for transgender people across the country.
“Our family is proud to continue to support Lambda Legal’s strategic approach to defending hard-won rights and winning new protections for the most vulnerable,” said Heather Steans. “Today there is no organization that is more pivotal in protecting the rights and dignity of my trans daughter than Lambda Legal. I hope that our commitment inspires other allies to join us and ensure equal protections for the entire LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV.”
The $1.25 million gift from the Steans Family supports the continued work and growth of Lambda Legal’s Nonbinary and Transgender Rights Project. Lambda Legal has long been committed to ensuring that transgender and nonbinary people have the basic protections they need and deserve to live full and rewarding lives. In Lambda Legal’s most recent victory, on April 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed two lower court rulings ordering North Carolina and West Virginia to end their discriminatory exclusions for coverage of gender-affirming medical care for transgender people in both states, impacting more than 175,000 transgender people over the age of thirteen. The full panel of the Circuit Court ruled in favor of transgender plaintiffs in two separate lawsuits, finding both states’ denial of coverage for medical care to be discriminatory and unconstitutional.
“We are extremely grateful for the commitment of the Steans family to the fight for LGBTQ+ equality,” said Sasha Buchert, director of Lambda Legal’s Nonbinary and Transgender Rights Project. “This extremely generous gift will empower Lambda Legal to meet the growing needs to win and defend the rights of transgender and nonbinary people.”
Lambda Legal has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights for over 50 years as a national legal nonprofit organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Lambda Legal’s lawyers have won precedent-setting civil rights cases on everything from marriage equality to gender identity to health care discrimination. Through education, advocacy, and legal action, Lambda Legal strives to protect and advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, advocating for a society that embraces diversity and inclusivity.