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Everyone in America deserves equal treatment under the law regardless of sexual orientation, including the right to marry the partner of your choice. The ACLU works for equal rights and legal protections against discrimination and harassment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

Former Student Gains Major Settlement after Enduring Years of Harassment

January 26, 2012
A former student who endured severe and persistent harassment throughout junior high and high school has gained a major settlement from the Aberdeen School District, the ACLU of Washington announced today. The ACLU has represented Russell Dickerson III in a lawsuit saying that school district officials were aware of the harassment but failed to take steps reasonably calculated to end it. Read More »
 

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Maj. Witt Salutes Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

September 19, 2011
Major Margaret Witt reflects on her lengthy legal battle against her dismissal and the importance of the repeal of DADT. Represented by the ACLU-WA, Maj. Witt won a landmark ruling that helped pave the way for the end of the discriminatory policy. Pictured above: Major Witt (far right) deployed in Oman. Read More »
 

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LGBT Parents and the Law: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Family

Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Seattle University School of Law, Sullivan Hall, Room C6, 901 12th Ave., Seattle
Want to learn more about the legal rights of LGBT parents in Washington? Then please join us at the Seattle University School of Law to ask questions and hear legal experts explain the rapidly changing laws. Read More »
 
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Recognizing Out-of-State Relationships

Bill: HB 1649
Position: support
Status: Passed
In 2009 the legislature passed and voters affirmed an ACLU-backed measure extending to registered domestic partners all the rights and responsibilities of marriage under state law. Currently, state law recognizes domestic partnerships and civil unions from other states but excludes marriages of same-sex couples. This year’s bill recognizes marriages of same-sex couples from other states as valid domestic partnerships in Washington. Read More »
 
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Remembering an Earlier Successful Mission

Sarah Dunne, ACLU-WA Legal Director
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Last week, the ACLU of Washington celebrated the courage of Major Margaret Witt and the conclusion of her five-year battle against the Air Force for unlawfully discharging her under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. In dropping its appeal of the federal court ruling in Maj. Witt’s favor, the Air Force also agreed to remove the discharge from her record and retire her with full benefits. As we watched last week’s events unfold, I couldn’t help but wonder what Sergeant Perry Watkins would have thought about all of this. Read More »
 
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Final Settlement to Landmark Lawsuit: Major Witt to Retire with Full Benefits

May 10, 2011
Major Margaret Witt has reached a final settlement in her landmark lawsuit challenging her dismissal under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Major Witt attended the signing ceremony for the repeal of DADT in December and now will retire with full benefits, the ACLU-WA announced. 
Pictured:Maj. Witt (right) with her partner Laurie McChesney. Read More »
 

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Gay-Straight Alliance Gains Equal Rights

Lindsey Soffes
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 10:42 am
Recently, three Kennewick High School students formed a gay-straight alliance (GSA), the first among all Kennewick schools. They did so in the face of months-long opposition by some members of the Kennewick School Board to recognizing GSAs as non-curricular student clubs. Now, to its credit, the Kennewick School Board has voted 3-2 to give GSAs the same access to school resources enjoyed by other non-curricular student clubs. Read More »
 
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Stop Bullying and Harassment Now! It’s the Law.

March 21, 2011
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Ross Dress for Less Redresses Discrimination

Lindsey Soffes
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 at 11:34 am
The ACLU-WA was recently contacted by a transgender woman who experienced discrimination at the Ross Dress for Less in Lynnwood, Washington. While trying on clothes in the women’s dressing room, this woman was interrupted by the store manager, sternly told to put on her “regular clothes,” and loudly and repeatedly instructed to leave the dressing room area immediately. The ACLU-WA contacted Ross’ headquarters to explain that the Lynnwood store manager’s actions clearly violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination. Read More »
 
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