Connecticut Know Your Rights - Page 7 of 12 - GLAD Law
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Avèk sipò inanim toulede pati yo, Sena Connecticut la apwouve yon pwojè lwa istorik sou parante pou pwolonje aksè egal a pwoteksyon legal pou tout timoun.

Lwa sou Parante Connecticut la—ki pwolonje pwoteksyon parante pou tout timoun CT yo kèlkeswa sikonstans nesans yo oswa sitiyasyon matrimonyal paran yo, sèks yo, oswa oryantasyon seksyèl yo—kounye a pral nan biwo Gouvènè a.

HARTFORD — Nan yon viktwa pou fanmi Connecticut yo, Sena eta a te vote inanimman yè swa pou adopte Lwa sou Parante Connecticut la (CPA). Chanm Reprezantan an te deja adopte CPA a sou yon baz toulede pati 141-1, e kounye a pwojè lwa a ale nan men Gouvènè Lamont. CPA a pral mete ajou lalwa eta a pou asire ke tout timoun CT yo — kèlkeswa sikonstans nesans yo oswa eta sivil yo, sèks yo, oswa oryantasyon seksyèl paran yo — gen aksè egal a sekirite yon relasyon legal paran-pitit.

“Sa a se yon moman istorik e li te dwe rive depi lontan pou Connecticut – finalman tout timoun pral jwenn menm pwoteksyon anba lalwa, epi tout paran pral jwenn rekonesans lè pitit yo fèt,” te di. Senatè Alex Kasser, (Koneksikòt 36yèm distri), prensipal sipòtè pwojè lwa a nan Sena a"Pwojè lwa sa a konfime ke pa gen plas pou diskriminasyon nan Connecticut. Mwen onore pou m te jwe yon ti wòl nan viktwa istorik sa a."

CPA a pral modènize lalwa Connecticut la lè li asire aksè a paran legal pou tout timoun, tankou moun ki gen paran ki pa marye, menm sèks, oswa ki pa byolojik. Pa egzanp, li pral pwolonje aksè a pwosesis Rekonesans Paran pou koup menm sèks yo, yon fòm senp ki deja disponib pou koup diferan sèks ki pa marye ki pèmèt yon paran etabli yon relasyon legal paran-pitit nan nesans san pwosedi tribinal. CPA a pral bay pwoteksyon tou pou timoun ki vin ansent atravè repwodiksyon asisté, ki... reprezante kat pousan nan tout nesans nan Connecticut.

“Kounye a nou sou wout pou yon Connecticut kote tout fanmi yo trete egalman, kèlkeswa sèks, oryantasyon seksyèl, oswa sitiyasyon matrimonyal yo,” te di. Pwofesè Douglas NeJaime nan Yale Law School, yon natif natal Connecticut ak prensipal redaktè pwojè lwa a"Lwa sa a, yon fwa yo siyen l, pral fè lalwa sou paran nan Connecticut ki jis e konstitisyonèl epi li pral fè paran LGBTQ yo ak pitit yo vin pi an sekirite atravè eta a. Nou pa ka tann pou nou selebre jou sa a byento."

“Avèk vòt sa a, Sena a rekonèt ke chak timoun nan Connecticut merite sekirite yon relasyon legal ak paran yo, epi ke tout divèsite fanmi Connecticut yo ta dwe pwoteje ak selebre,” te deklare. Polly Crozier, Avoka Senior nan GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)"Nou rekonesan anvè lidèchip Senatè Kasser ak Senatè Winfield, anvè prensipal patwone Reprezantan Currey ak tout patwone ak sipòtè nou yo ni nan Sena a ni nan Chanm Reprezantan an, epi anvè chak Senatè ki te vote jodi a pou pwoteje timoun yo. Nou espere Gouvènè Lamont pral aji byen vit pou siyen pwojè lwa enpòtan sa a pou fè l tounen yon lwa."

Efò pou pase a Lwa sou Parante Connecticut dirije pa la Kowalisyon Nou Pran Swen, yon kowalisyon fanmi Connecticut, defansè legal, ak òganizasyon kominotè epi dirije pa yon klinik Yale Law School ak Avoka ak defansè legal GLBTQ yoPwojè lwa a resevwa sipò yon pakèt ekspè ak òganizasyon, tankou defansè timoun, òganizasyon legal, gwoup LGBTQ, ak ekspè medikal.

Komisyon Lwa Inifòm nan te adapte CPA a apati yon lejislasyon modèl. Se yon kò ki gen ladan lejislatè leta, jij leta, entelektyèl ak avoka ki pa patizan epi ki pwodui lwa inifòm sou yon pakèt pwoblèm ki gen rapò ak lalwa leta. Yo te pase lejislasyon menm jan an nan Maine, Washington, Vermont, Kalifòni ak Rhode Island.

APRANN PLIS SOU LWA SOU PARENTASYON KONEKTIK LA

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Lwa sou Parante Connecticut la—ki pwolonje pwoteksyon pou tout timoun CT yo kèlkeswa sikonstans nesans yo oswa sitiyasyon matrimonyal paran yo, sèks yo, oswa oryantasyon seksyèl yo—kounye a pral nan Sena a.

HARTFORD — Jodi a, nan yon vòt istorik, Chanm Reprezantan Connecticut la te adopte Lwa sou Parante Connecticut la (CPA) 141-1, avèk yon sipò akablan toulede pati yo. Si Sena a apwouve li, HB 6321 ta revize lalwa eta ki egziste deja a pou asire ke tout timoun CT yo — kèlkeswa sikonstans nesans yo oswa eta sivil yo, sèks yo, oswa oryantasyon seksyèl paran yo — gen aksè egal a sekirite yon relasyon legal paran-pitit. "Jodi a, Chanm Reprezantan yo te vote pou pwoteje dwa tout fanmi Connecticut yo, kèlkeswa jan yo fòme," te di Reprezantan Jeff Currey (East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor), prensipal moun ki te patwone pwojè lwa a. “CPA a pral asire ke paran LGBTQ yo ak pitit yo pa oblije fè fas ak obstak degradan ak ensètitid douloure akòz lwa sou patènite ki demode e ki pa konstitisyonèl. Sena a dwe aji kounye a san pèdi tan epi vote pou apwouve CPA a—fanmi nou yo pa ka tann ankò.” CPA a ta modènize lalwa Connecticut la lè li asire aksè a patènite legal pou tout timoun, tankou moun ki gen paran ki pa marye, menm sèks, oswa ki pa byolojik. Pa egzanp, li ta pwolonje aksè koup menm sèks yo a pwosesis Rekonesans Patènite a, yon fòm senp ki deja disponib pou koup diferan sèks ki pa marye ki pèmèt yon paran etabli yon relasyon legal paran-pitit nan nesans san pwosedi tribinal. Pwojè lwa a ta bay pwoteksyon tou pou timoun ki vin ansent atravè repwodiksyon asisté, ki... reprezante kat pousan tout nesans nan Connecticut. "Vòt istorik jodi a se yon viktwa pou timoun ak fanmi atravè Connecticut," te di Pwofesè Douglas NeJaime nan Lekòl Dwa Yale, yon natif natal Connecticut e prensipal moun ki te ekri pwojè lwa a. "Kounye a, nou sou wout pou yon Connecticut ki trete tout fanmi ak respè ak rekonesans yo merite, kèlkeswa sèks, oryantasyon seksyèl, oswa sitiyasyon matrimonyal yo. Nou ankouraje Sena a pou l aji rapidman pou l adopte lejislasyon sa a epi pwoteje paran LGBTQ yo ak pitit yo." Efò pou adopte lejislasyon an Lwa sou Parante Connecticut dirije pa la Kowalisyon Nou Pran Swen, yon kowalisyon fanmi Connecticut, defansè legal, ak òganizasyon kominotè epi dirije pa yon klinik Yale Law School ak Avoka ak defansè legal GLBTQ yoPwojè lwa a resevwa sipò yon pakèt ekspè ak òganizasyon, tankou defansè timoun, òganizasyon legal, gwoup LGBTQ, ak ekspè medikal. Komisyon Lwa Inifòm nan te adapte CPA a apati yon lejislasyon modèl, yon kò lejislatè leta, jij leta, entelektyèl, ak avoka ki pa patizan, ki pwodui lwa inifòm sou yon pakèt pwoblèm lalwa leta. Yo te pase yon lejislasyon menm jan an nan Maine, Washington, Vermont, Kalifòni, ak Rhode Island. "Yon relasyon ki an sekirite ak paran yo esansyèl pou byennèt chak timoun, epi vòt jodi a fè nou fè yon pa anplis pou nou rekonèt parante legal ki reflete epi pwoteje divèsite fanmi Connecticut yo," se sa yo te di. Polly Crozier, Avoka Prensipal GLAD. "Nou rekonesan anvè lidèchip Reprezantan Currey, moun ki patwone nou yo, ak chak manm Chanm Reprezantan ki te vote jodi a. Nou espere Sena a ap aji byen vit pou fini travay la epi asire ke tout fanmi yo pwoteje anba lalwa Connecticut."

Pran aksyon jodi a: Di Senatè ou a pou l adopte Lwa sou Parante Connecticut la.

 

Si ou gen yon istwa sou kijan twou vid ki genyen nan lalwa kounye a mete fanmi ou an danje, pataje istwa ou.

Share Your Story button   Pou plis enfòmasyon oswa pou konekte avèk fanmi ki afekte yo ak moun ki sipòte lejislasyon an, kontakte Cara Newlon nan cara.newlon@yale.edu oubyen Amanda Johnston nan ajohnston@glad.org.

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GLAD’s amicus brief submitted in Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities v. Edge Fitness et al. argues the creation of an implied right to “gender privacy” that is not authorized by any statutory language will create a substantial risk of being utilized in other contexts to undermine the state’s nondiscrimination laws, including for transgender people.

GLAD has submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the Connecticut Supreme Court in Komisyon sou Dwa Moun ak Opòtinite kont Edge Fitness et al., a case in which a male customer at a gym sued to challenge a women-only workout area. GLAD filed the brief to ensure that the Court’s ruling does not inadvertently undermine Connecticut’s nondiscrimination law, including for transgender people. Because current Connecticut law does not authorize sex-segregated gyms or workout areas, the trial court in this case created a new, vague, and ill-defined implied right to “gender privacy” to rule that a women-only workout area was lawful. GLAD’s brief argues that the creation of an implied right to “gender privacy” that is not authorized by any statutory language will create a substantial risk that it will be utilized in other contexts that will undermine the state’s nondiscrimination laws. Privacy has all too often been used as a guise to hide prejudice and discomfort with LGBTQ people. The invocation of “gender privacy,” for example, has been relied upon for decades as an unfounded justification of those who objected to the presence of transgender people in gender-separated spaces. It has also been used as a reason to exclude openly gay and lesbian servicemembers from the military. The creation of a new “gender privacy” right could even encourage the reassertion of gender segregation in previously male-dominated spaces. GLAD recognizes the importance of workout spaces for women that are free from harassment and objectification. Any change to Connecticut law, however, must come from the legislature which can craft a narrow exception rather than through a broad new judicially-created right. GLAD’s brief was submitted by attorneys Bennett Klein, Jennifer Levi, and Gary Buseck and Kenneth Bartschi of Horton, Dowd, Bartschi & Levesque, P.C. of Hartford. The brief was also joined by Lambda Legal and Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition. READ THE BRIEF

Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities v. Edge Fitness et al.

Mizajou: On January 25, 2022, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that Edge Fitness violated Connecticut’s nondiscrimination statute by maintaining a separate workout area for women. Read the ruling.

 

GLAD has submitted an amicus curiae brief in the Connecticut Supreme Court in Komisyon sou Dwa Moun ak Opòtinite kont Edge Fitness et al., a case in which a male customer at a gym sued to challenge a women-only workout area. GLAD filed the brief to ensure that the Court’s ruling does not inadvertently undermine Connecticut’s nondiscrimination law, including for transgender people.

Because current Connecticut law does not authorize sex-segregated gyms or workout areas, the trial court in this case created a new, vague, and ill-defined implied right to “gender privacy” to rule that a women-only workout area was lawful. GLAD’s brief argues that the creation of an implied right to “gender privacy” that is not authorized by any statutory language will create a substantial risk that it will be utilized in other contexts that will undermine the state’s nondiscrimination laws. Privacy has all too often been used as a guise to hide prejudice and discomfort with LGBTQ people. The invocation of “gender privacy,” for example, has been relied upon for decades as an unfounded justification of those who objected to the presence of transgender people in gender-separated spaces. It has also been used as a reason to exclude openly gay and lesbian servicemembers from the military. The creation of a new “gender privacy” right could even encourage the reassertion of gender segregation in previously male-dominated spaces.

GLAD recognizes the importance of workout spaces for women that are free from harassment and objectification. Any change to Connecticut law, however, must come from the legislature which can craft a narrow exception rather than through a broad new judicially-created right.

GLAD’s brief was submitted by attorneys Bennett Klein, Jennifer Levi, and Gary Buseck and Kenneth Bartschi of Horton, Dowd, Bartschi & Levesque, P.C. of Hartford. The brief was also joined by Lambda Legal and Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition.

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With Overwhelming Bipartisan Support…

CT Lawmakers Approve Historic Bill to Reform Outdated and Unconstitutional Parentage Laws

The Connecticut Parentage Act—which extends protections to all CT children regardless of their parents’ marital status, gender, or sexual orientation—now heads to the House floor.

HARTFORD — On the heels of a powerful hearing earlier this month where CT families called on lawmakers to reform state parentage law, the Connecticut Judiciary Committee today passed the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA) on consent out of committee. If approved by the full General Assembly, HB 6321 would overhaul existing state law to ensure that all CT children — regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents — have equal access to the security of a legal parent-child relationship. “Today’s historic vote brings us one step closer to a Connecticut that recognizes all families are deserving of respect and dignity under the law,” said Pwofesè Douglas NeJaime nan Lekòl Dwa Yale, yon natif natal Connecticut e prensipal moun ki te ekri pwojè lwa a. “Connecticut’s current parentage law denies protections to many LGBTQ families, and is outdated, discriminatory, and unconstitutional. We hope that the full General Assembly will act without delay and vote to approve the CPA.” The CPA was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and enjoys broad support. The CPA would modernize Connecticut’s parentage law by ensuring access to legal parenthood for all children, including those with unmarried, same-sex, or non-biological parents. For example, it would extend the Acknowledgement of Parentage process to same-sex couples, a simple form already available to unmarried different-sex couples that allows a parent to establish a legal parent-child relationship at birth without court proceedings. The bill would also remove gender-specific language from the state’s parentage laws and provide protections for children conceived through assisted reproduction, which reprezante kat pousan of all Connecticut births. “When it comes to paths for parents to establish a legal relationship to non-biological children, Connecticut falls far behind other New England states,” said Rep. Jeff Currey (East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor), the lead sponsor of the bill. “Connecticut has the second highest rate of births through assisted reproduction in the country, and 37 percent of children in our state were born to unmarried parents. Yet our laws do not recognize a legal connection between parents and non-biological children, and actually create obstacles to parentage.” At the public hearing before the Judiciary Committee on March 8, dozens of impacted families and legal and medical experts submitted oral and written testimony in support of the bill. The effort to pass the Connecticut Parentage Act is led by the WE Care Coalition, a coalition of Connecticut families, legal advocates, and community organizations and spearheaded by a Yale Law School clinic and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. “When our amazing baby girl was born, my wife Denise and I were horrified to learn that Denise wouldn’t be legally recognized as her parent nationwide unless she went through the long and expensive process of adopting her own child,” testified Bridgeport resident Stephanie Ocasio-Gonzalez who with her wife Denise is raising both their toddler daughter and a teenage son. “I lie awake at night worrying about what would happen to my family if, God forbid, something were to happen to me—Denise could lose both her wife and her children.  I urge you to pass this bill, and make Connecticut a state where all families are treated equally. Our children’s futures depend on it.” “Exclusive parentage law sends a message that children like me do not belong,” testified Malina Simard-Halm, a first-year student at Yale Law School and a member of the We Care Coalition, who was born to her two fathers via surrogacy. “When I was growing up, laws like Connecticut’s gave authority to the schoolyard bullying and kindled my own insecurities; at times, it led me to feel ashamed of the people that loved me and fought for me the most.” The CPA was adapted from model legislation by the Uniform Law Commission, a non-partisan body of state lawmakers, state judges, scholars, and lawyers that produces uniform laws on a wide range of state-law issues. Similar legislation has been passed in Maine, Washington, Vermont, California, and Rhode Island. “Connecticut’s current parentage law raises serious constitutional concerns,” said Polly Crozier, Avoka Prensipal GLAD.  “It is high time that Connecticut passed this common-sense reform to protect all children, regardless of their parents’ marital status, gender, or sexual orientation. The Judiciary Committee’s vote today means that we are that much closer to a legal system that reflects and protects the diversity of Connecticut’s families.”

Learn more about the CPA

Pou plis enfòmasyon oswa pou konekte avèk fanmi ki afekte yo ak moun ki sipòte lejislasyon an, kontakte Cara Newlon nan cara.newlon@yale.edu oubyen Amanda Johnston nan ajohnston@glad.org. The We Care Coalition includes: the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Connecticut, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Center for Advanced Reproductive Services at UCONN, Center for Children’s Advocacy, Connecticut ACLU, COLAGE, Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber, Connecticut Voices for Children, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), The Ferrara Law Group, P.C., Fertility Within Reach , Freed Marcroft,  GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders), Gay Parents to Be at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, Greater Hartford Legal Aid , National Association of Social Workers – CT Chapter, New England Fertility Society, New England Surrogacy, New Haven Pride Center, PFLAG Hartford, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, Resolve New England, Resolve: The National Infertility Association, Triangle Community Center, True Colors, Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists, LLC, Yale Child Study Center, Yale Fertility Center, Yale Medicine Greenwich Fertility, Dr. Sandra Carson, Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Hugh Taylor, Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine & President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and Yale Law students.  

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“Outdated, Discriminatory, Unconstitutional”

A coalition of parents, community advocates, and scientific and legal experts delivered emotional testimony today in support of the Connecticut Parentage Act.

HARTFORD – In a powerful hearing before the Connecticut Judiciary Committee, families and community members called on assembly members to pass the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA), state legislation that would ensure that all Connecticut children — regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents — have equal access to the security of a legal parent-child relationship. A recording of the testimony is available here.  While Connecticut historically has been a leader in LGBTQ equality, it still fails to extend parentage protections to different-sex and same-sex couples equally—leaving many parents in same-sex relationships legal strangers to their own children. The absence of a legal relationship can have a devastating impact on families, including by barring parents from making medical and educational decisions for their children, adding their children to their health insurance, or obtaining custody in the event of separation or death of a legal parent. “When our amazing baby girl was born, my wife Denise and I were horrified to learn that Denise wouldn’t be legally recognized as her parent nationwide unless she went through the long and expensive process of adopting her own child,” said Bridgeport resident Stephanie Ocasio-Gonzalez who with her wife Denise is raising both their now-toddler daughter and a teenage son. “I lie awake at night worrying about what would happen to my family if, God forbid, something were to happen to me—Denise could lose both her wife and her children.  Same-sex couples shouldn’t have to worry about death before we create new life.” The CPA would modernize Connecticut’s parentage law by filling gaps in existing protections and ensuring access to legal parenthood for all children, including those with unmarried, same-sex, or non-biological parents. For example, the CPA would extend the Acknowledgement of Parentage process to same-sex couples, a simple form already available to unmarried different-sex couples that allows a parent to establish a legal parent-child relationship at birth without court proceedings. The bill would also remove gender-specific language from the state’s parentage laws, and it would provide protections for children born to unmarried parents through assisted reproduction—in a state where assisted reproduction accounts for about four percent of all births. “For years, I’ve heard from residents about the nightmare of red tape and degrading obstacles that our current law presents to parents,” said Rep. Jeff Currey (East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor), who introduced the legislation. “Our state’s law should reflect the reality of the lives of our state’s families—our children’s futures depend on it. The CPA will ensure that our state’s laws give LGBTQ parents and their children the dignity and security they deserve.” Many impacted families and representatives, including submitted testimony at the hearing.  The effort to pass the Connecticut Parentage Act is led by the We CARE Coalition, a coalition of Connecticut families, legal advocates, and community organizations and spearheaded by a Yale Law School clinic and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. “As it stands, Connecticut’s parentage law is outdated, discriminatory, and unconstitutional,” said Professor Douglas NeJaime of Yale Law School, a Connecticut native and a principal drafter of the bill.  “The day a child is born should be the happiest time of a parent’s life—not a time of legal uncertainty and worry. The Connecticut Parentage Act will treat families that have historically been excluded based on gender, sexual orientation, and marital status with the respect and recognition they deserve.” Read Professor NeJaime’s written testimony “Passing the Connecticut Parentage Act will protect vulnerable children and families and send a signal that Connecticut stands for equality and dignity for all under the law,” said Polly Crozier, Senior Staff Attorney at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and a principal drafter of the legislation. “The bill is a commonsense measure that has been enacted in many states and has the bipartisan support of legislators and state and national legal and medical experts. Connecticut’s families cannot wait any longer for equal access to parentage—we hope the Assembly will act quickly to protect LGBTQ parents and their children.” Read Polly Crozier’s written testimony The Connecticut Parentage Act is adapted from model legislation by the Uniform Law Commission, a non-partisan body of state lawmakers, state judges, scholars, and lawyers that produces uniform laws on a wide range of state-law issues. The 2017 Uniform Parentage Act provides a model so that states meet their constitutional obligations to provide equal paths to parentage for nonmarital children and children of LGBTQ parents. Multiple states, including Maine, Washington, Vermont, California, and Rhode Island, have adopted similar legislation. In 2020, the CPA received strong bipartisan support in the Connecticut General Assembly, but the session was cut short due to COVID-19. The CPA is supported by a broad range of experts and organizations, including child advocates, legal organizations, LGBTQ groups, and medical experts. Supporters include: the Center for Children’s Advocacy, Connecticut Voices for Children, the Connecticut ACLU, the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber, the New Haven Pride Center, PFLAG Hartford, the Triangle Community Center, COLAGE, Family Equality, the Connecticut Bar Association, the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Resolve New England, Fertility Within Reach, New England Fertility Society, the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. A team of Yale Law students and faculty have worked for the past two years to coordinate legislative drafting and advocacy efforts with members of the General Assembly, judges of the family and probate courts, state agencies, state fertility clinics, child welfare groups, LGBTQ rights organizations, and the Connecticut Bar Association. “As Connecticut residents and Connecticut voters, we are proud to support the CPA,” said Cara Newlon, a third-year law student who has worked on the bill from its inception. “For those of us anticipating careers in LGBTQ justice and gender equality, working on this bill has been an incredible opportunity to legislate our own rights—and those of past and future clients—into existence. We call on Connecticut lawmakers to build on the state’s legacy as a leader in LGBTQ rights to protect all families, regardless of how they are formed.”

Learn more about the We CARE Coalition and the CPA.

If your family has been impacted by current gaps in the state’s parentage law, share your story and help build support for the Connecticut Parentage Act!

Share Your Story button
To be connected with impacted families and supporters of the legislation, contact Cara Newlon at cara.newlon@yale.edu oubyen Amanda Johnston nan ajohnston@glad.org.

Lwa sou Parante Connecticut

The Connecticut Parentage Act updates outdated parentage law so that it is clear, equitable, and provides legal protection for all children and families.

Viktwa! On June 1, 2021, Gov. Ned Lamont held a signing ceremony to celebrate the passage of the Connecticut Parentage Act. Read more here.

The Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA) updates state law to clarify who can be a parent and how to establish parentage. These critical reforms recognize the diversity of families in Connecticut and ensure that all children can have their legal parentage established, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Current state parentage law is out-of-date and unconstitutional.

GLAD joined Douglas NeJaime of Yale Law School, Connecticut families, and other community organizations to form the We Care Coalition. We Care has worked together to build support for the CPA and get the legislation passed in the 2021 session. To learn more about the efforts to build support and read stories of families impacted by the state’s parentage laws, visit the We Care website.

Learn more button

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Read the testimony from two leading organizations of We Care:

Read testimony from other contributors on the legislation webpage.

 

Justice for All: GLAD’s 2021 Connecticut Event

Sunday, April 25 2021

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Virtual Interactive Event

Konsènan Evènman an

Thank you to everyone who participated in GLAD’s Justice for All Connecticut on April 25, 2021!

Missed the event? Want to re-watch the highlights? We’ve got you covered.

Watch Senior Attorney Polly Crozier’s update on GLAD’s critical LGBTQ+ work in Connecticut and throughout the nation – and how supporters like you can make a difference.

As part of the Kowalisyon Nou Pran Swen, GLAD is working to pass Lwa sou Parante Connecticut. The bill would protect children of LGBTQ parents and ensure every child born in Connecticut has equal access to the security of legal parentage.

This year, we were thrilled to honor Connecticut State Representative Jeff Currey for his profound dedication to the rights and equality of the LGBTQ community. Watch his moving remarks about the power of authenticity in his life and his work, and his call for each of us to take an active role in fighting for what’s right.

Together, we paid tribute to friend and trailblazer Jerimarie Liesegang, for her lifetime of work advocating for the transgender community in Connecticut and beyond. Her work impacted all of us, and we miss her dearly.

GLAD’s work is only possible because of your support. Thank you. If you made a pledge during the event – or want to make a gift now to keep the fight for justice moving forward – just click here to make your donation.

Vizite glad.org/events to find more upcoming events and opportunities to connect with the GLAD community!


Co Chairs
Anne Stanback & Charlotte Kinlock
Meghan Freed & Kristen Marcroft
Christiana N. Gianopulos
Charlie Reed

Komite Akèy la
Linda Estabrook
Beth Kerrigan & Jody Mock
Brad & Flint Kleinerman-Gehre
Shawn Lang
Danny Livingston
Robin & Holly McHaelen
Rev. Aaron Miller & MCC Hartford
Mark Ojakian & Jason Veretto
Alice Pritchard & Dana Bugl
Gretchen Raffa

As of April 25, 2021

For more information, please contact Chris Rainville at crainville@glad.org.

Blog

Bon nouvèl: pa gen anyen kounye a

For nearly 50 years, Title IX has served as a bedrock for establishing fair and equal educational opportunities. Any move the Office of Civil Rights takes to wield Title IX as a weapon against transgender high school girls erodes the significance of this landmark civil rights law.

Kisa ki te pase?

Nan dat 15 me, Biwo pou Dwa Sivil Depatman Edikasyon Etazini an (OCR) te voye yon lèt bay Asosyasyon Atletik Entèkolèj Connecticut (CIAC) ak 5 distri lekòl Connecticut pou di ke règleman CIAC a, ki pèmèt tifi transjèn yo patisipe nan ekip espòtif fi yo, vyole Tit IX la. Lèt la te menase CIAC ak lekòl yo tou pou yo refize ba yo lajan federal.

Ki sa ki te mennen nan lèt sa a?

Ane pase a, yon òganizasyon ekstrèm, konsèvatif, ak dwa, Alliance Defending Freedom, te depoze yon plent bay OCR pou konteste patisipasyon kontinyèl de tifi transjèn nan lekòl segondè nan evènman atletik lekòl la.

Ki efè lèt la genyen?

Lèt la pa gen okenn efè imedya. Se vre, pozisyon OCR a ki di politik trans-enklizif CIAC a vyole Tit IX la se yon bagay ki vrèman alarmant. Li nan menm sans ak rediksyon dwa sivil ak politik anti-LGBTQ nou te wè ap soti nan administrasyon Trump la depi janvye 2017. Sepandan, lèt la pa gen okenn analiz legal ki fè otorite e piblikasyon li pa gen okenn enpak legal imedya sou CIAC oswa lekòl li te adrese yo, alewè pou okenn lòt lekòl, distri, oswa lòt asosyasyon atletik nan tout eta a. Epi, byenke li menase CIAC ak lekòl yo ak pèt fon federal, OCR pa gen okenn otorite pou refize antite sa yo fon federal lè li pibliye lèt sa a. Li enpòtan tou pou note ke nan tout listwa li, OCR pa janm refize okenn antite fon federal pou vyolasyon Tit IX swadizan oswa demontre.

Poukisa lèt la pa gen okenn efè imedya?

Malgre ke Depatman Edikasyon Etazini an responsab pou aplike lalwa a, li pa gen kapasite pou chanje lalwa a oswa finalman deside sa lalwa a vle di. Tribinal yo gen pouvwa pou entèprete siyifikasyon Tit IX la. Gen yon pwosè federal ki annatant kote CIAC ak senk lekòl kote lèt OCR a adrese a ap defann politik aktyèl Connecticut la ki otorize tifi transganr yo patisipe nan espò tifi yo. Okòmansman, ADF te mande yon desizyon akselere pa tribinal federal ki ap tande ka a. Sepandan, avèk anilasyon sezon espò prentan an akòz pandemi COVID-19 la, tribinal la retire ka a nan tout orè akselere. Nan pratik, nenpòt aksyon OCR pran, kòm swivi lèt la, p ap kapab avanse pi vit pase pwosè ki annatant la.

Ki repons CIAC bay sou lèt la?

CIAC la ak distri lekòl yo nonmen nan lèt la ap defann avèk fòs règleman espòtif aktyèl yo ki asire enklizyon total elèv transganr yo nan atletik lekòl la; epi yo te deklare piblikman ke y ap kontinye fè sa.

Kisa lalwa di?

Ni lalwa eta a ni desizyon tribinal federal anvan yo dakò ak règleman ki jis e enklizif epi ki sipòte règleman CIAC la. Connecticut gen lwa solid e klè sou non-diskriminasyon, ansanm ak konsèy ki soti nan depatman edikasyon eta a ki di elèv transganr yo dwe gen aksè egal a opòtinite lekòl. Sa gen ladan l kapasite tifi transganr yo pou patisipe nan espò lekòl tifi yo. Gen plizyè desizyon tribinal federal anvan ki te di ke pwoteksyon federal kont diskriminasyon seksyèl (tankou Tit IX ak lòt tankou Tit VII) aplike pou moun transganr yo. Anplis de sa, Komisyon Connecticut sou Dwa Moun ak Opòtinite, ajans leta a ki responsab pou aplike lwa non-diskriminasyon Connecticut yo, te entèveni nan pwosè federal la epi li ap defann règleman CIAC la tou.

Nòt sou ka ki annatant nan Lakou Siprèm nan

Lakou Siprèm Etazini an ap egzamine yon ka kote yon anplwayè ap chèche ranvèse yon presedan federal ki etabli pwoteksyon pou moun transganr anba lalwa federal sou travay ke yo rekonèt kòm Tit VII. Lakou Siprèm nan espere bay yon desizyon nan ka sa a anvan fen mwa jen an. Desizyon an gen anpil chans pou afekte agiman yo nan pwosè Tit IX Connecticut ki annatant la.  

Kisa nou ka fè?

  • Pale fò pou sipòte règleman espò lekòl ki enklizif pou moun trans yo.
  • Fè konnen lèt OCR a pa gen okenn enpak pratik, epi li pa yon baz oswa yon rezon pou chanje okenn règleman ki deja egziste ki sipòte ak pwoteje enklizyon atlèt transjèn yo. Pa gen anyen ki prevwa, pa gen anyen ki chanje an tèm de lalwa, epi règleman CIAC la rete entak.
  • Si ou se yon elèv oswa yon paran, fè reprezantan distri lekòl ou a ak nenpòt administratè lekòl, pwofesè ak anplwaye konnen ke ou sipòte règleman espòtif ki pèmèt atlèt transganr yo patisipe. Moun ki opoze atlèt transganr yo ka fè anpil bri nan kèk kominote, sa ki ka defòme nivo sipò yo panse ki genyen pou opinyon yo. Lidèchip lekòl la bezwen tande vwa plen moun ki kanpe dèyè règleman trans enklizif aktyèl yo.
  • Kontakte lejislatè federal ou yo epi ankouraje yo pou yo sipòte lwa federal klè ki asire pwoteksyon elèv transganr yo nan tout domèn lekòl ak lavi sosyal, tankou patisipasyon nan espò.
  • Kenbe yon je sou lejislasyon eta a ki vize entèdi tifi transganr patisipe nan espò epi denonse li. Idaho fèk pase yon lwa konsa. Adopsyon li make premye fwa yon eta adopte yon lwa ki fèt pou eskli elèv transganr yo nan atletik. Erezman, pwojè lwa menm jan an ki te prezante nan lòt eta yo pa t pase. Men, defans enterè ak mobilizasyon lejislatif rete esansyèl pou bloke pwojè lwa sa yo.
  • Kontakte GLAD nan GLADAnswers.org Nou bezwen tande lè elèv transganr yo afekte negatifman nan nenpòt fason. Si ou gen kesyon oswa ou bezwen plis enfòmasyon, tanpri kontakte nou.

CHRO Connecticut la elimine tout esklizyon pou swen sante transjèn yo.

Komisyon Dwa Moun ak Opòtinite Connecticut la pibliye yon deklarasyon istorik jodi a. desizyon entèdi tout anplwayè ak konpayi asirans yo refize pwoteksyon pou bezwen swen sante moun transganr yo ki gen rapò ak tranzisyon sèks. Desizyon sa a swiv yon tandans nasyonal pou elimine esklizyon diskriminatwa pou swen medikal ki afime sèks.

Desizyon an deklare:

Polis asirans ki refize kategorikman konsidere sèten pwosedi pou sèten moun sou baz ras, sèks, oswa oryantasyon seksyèl yo se diskriminatwa an premye. Se menm jan an tou pou esklizyon sa yo pou moun transganr sou baz idantite sèks, yon kondisyon inik pou yo. Kidonk, lè Eta a oswa yon minisipalite pase kontra pou plan asirans sante ki gen esklizyon kategorik pou tretman ki gen rapò ak disfori sèks - e sitou lè menm tretman yo kouvri pou tretman lòt kondisyon - li komèt yon pratik diskriminatwa, menm jan ak konpayi asirans lan. 

“Nou bat bravo pou Komisyon an paske li rekonèt bezwen swen sante kritik moun transganr yo epi li denonse diskriminasyon ki genyen nan plan sante ki refize swen,” te di. Ben Klein, Avoka Prensipal nan GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders"Eksklizyon ki klase pwosedi preskri pa doktè kòm "opsyonèl" oswa "kosmetik" kontredi yon gwo kantite prèv syantifik epi yo ka sèlman eksplike pa estereyotip ak prejije anvè moun transganr yo. Desizyon sa a pral asire ke desizyon swen sante kritik yo ka pran jan yo ta dwe, ant pasyan yo ak doktè yo, epi li pral pèmèt rezidan Connecticut yo jwenn aksè a swen ki sove lavi."

GLAD te depoze yon kout an konjonksyon avèk Pwofesè Kevin Barry nan Lekòl Dwa Inivèsite Quinnipiac sou non Rylie Robillard, yon rezidan Connecticut, Fon Edikasyon ak Legal pou Fanm Connecticut, ak Sant Nasyonal pou Egalite Transjèn. Dokiman sa a te resevwa sipò nan men temwayaj ekspè soti nan men Randi Ettner, PH.D, youn nan pi gwo ekspè nan peyi a sou swen medikal ki afimasyon sèks.

Klike la a pou aprann plis bagay sou ka a.

htKreyòl Ayisyen
Apèsi sou Konfidansyalite

Sitwèb sa a itilize bonbon pou nou ka ba ou pi bon eksperyans itilizatè posib. Enfòmasyon bonbon yo estoke nan navigatè w la epi yo fè fonksyon tankou rekonèt ou lè ou retounen sou sitwèb nou an epi ede ekip nou an konprann ki seksyon nan sitwèb la ou jwenn ki pi enteresan ak itil.