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Need help understanding your rights as an LGBTQ+ person or someone living with HIV? Visit our virtual Help Desk.

LGBTQ+ partners and families

Same-sex couples and their families deserve the same legal recognition, rights, and protections as everyone else.

 

The LGBTQ+ community has fought for decades for their relationships and their families to be recognized under the law and treated with respect. But these hard-won gains, including the right to marry, are under attack. 

Lambda Legal stands up for the rights of LGBTQ+ relationships and families. We’ve stood at the forefront of the fight for the freedom to marry. We’ve defended LGBTQ+ would-be parents who were denied the ability to open their hearts and homes to children—whether they wanted to adopt, foster, or seek fertility treatments. And we’ve ended the criminalization of same-sex relationships.

Cases on family protections.

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David Dinan and Vikranth (“Vik”) Gongidi pose for a photo in their home with their children
Clients Jennifer and Matt Cousins pose in their home with their children

Fast Facts

Nearly 6 million

The number of Americans who have an LGBTQ+ parent 

4x

Same-sex couples are four times more likely to have adopted children or stepchildren

More than 1 in 5

The number of LGBTQ+ Americans who live in a state that allows child welfare agencies to refuse to place children with them. 

Post-Election Questions About Protecting Family Relationships

LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV who contacted Lambda Legal’s Help Desk have expressed fear and uncertainty about the future. Many have asked how to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their loved ones. Most of the questions in our FAQ have been about ways same-sex couples and LGBTQ+ parents can protect their family relationships and how people who identify as transgender, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming (TNBGNC) can secure accurate identity documents.

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