Lambda Legal 265102 218891609 2008-06-12T17:10:36Z MantisEars 5527733 Lambda Legal logo jpg -> svg {{primarysources|date=May 2008}} {{infobox Organization |name = Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund |image = Lambda Legal logo.svg |image_border = |size = 201px |caption = |map = |msize = |mcaption = |abbreviation = |motto = |formation = |extinction = |type = |status = |purpose = |headquarters = [[New York City]], [[New York]] |location = |region_served = |membership = |language = |leader_title = |leader_name = |main_organ = |parent_organization = |affiliations = |num_staff = |num_volunteers = |budget = |website = [http://www.lambdalegal.org/ www.lambdalegal.org] |remarks = }} {{gay rights}} '''Lambda Legal''' (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund) is a United States [[civil rights]] organization that focuses on [[Homosexuality|gay men]], [[lesbian]]s, [[Bisexuality|bisexuals]], [[transgender]] people and those with [[HIV]] through [[impact litigation]], education, and public policy work. Originally envisioned in [[1971]], New York judges denied the organization's [[non-profit organization]] application on the grounds that its proposed activities would be contrary to [[public policy]]. That decision was later overturned in a [[1973]] decision by the [[New York Court of Appeals]], that [[U.S. state|state]]'s highest [[court]]. (''In re Thom'', 301 N.E.2d 542 (N.Y. 1973).). Its national headquarters remain in [[New York City]], but today has regional offices in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], [[Chicago, Illinois]], [[Dallas, Texas]], and [[Los Angeles, California]]. The current executive director is Kevin M. Cathcart. Lambda Legal has played a role in many legal cases in the [[United States]] pertaining to [[gay rights]], including the 6-3 [[United States Supreme Court]]'s [[2003]] decision in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'', which invalidated [[sodomy law]]s. Lambda Legal carries out its legal work principally through test cases selected for the likelihood of their success in establishing positive legal precedents that will affect lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those affected by HIV. Lambda Legal's staff of attorneys works on a wide range of cases, with their docket averaging more than 50 cases at any given time. Lambda Legal also maintains a national network of volunteer Cooperating Attorneys, which widens the scope of their legal work and allows attorneys, legal workers and law students to become involved in the program by working with Lambda Legal's legal staff. Lambda Legal pursues litigation in all parts of the country, in every area of the law that affects communities they represent, such as discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and the military; HIV/AIDS-related discrimination and public policy issues; parenting and relationship issues; equal marriage rights; equal employment and domestic partnership benefits; "sodomy" law challenges; immigration issues; anti-gay initiatives; and free speech and equal protection rights. ==External links== *[http://www.lambdalegal.org/ Official site] {{LGBT-footer}} [[Category:LGBT rights organizations]] [[Category:Organizations established in 1971]] [[Category:Legal defense organizations]] [[de:Lambda Legal]]