CRLA helps LGBTQ+ people understand and protect their legal rights
We offer:
- free legal services (eligibility may depend on income)
- free presentations and workshops
- supportive resource referrals
- free language assistance available
Not sure if we can help? Call us at (800) 567-5339 or email us at [email protected]. We serve both minors and adults.
Legal Services for LGBTQ+ People in Rural California
We help with legal issues that affect LGBTQ+ people. This includes issues that deal with:
Discrimination
We can help in situations where you think you were discriminated against because of:
- Sexual orientation: who you are attracted to
- Examples: gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual
- Gender identity: a person's gender that may or may not match sex assigned at birth
- Examples: trans woman, non binary, two spirit
- Gender expression: how you show your gender to the world
- Examples: hairstyles, accessories, makeup, clothing
Name and Gender Markers
We can help:
- Get you a legal name and gender marker correction through the court
- Make a public name and gender marker correction record private
- Note: As of July 2026, new name and gender marker correction records are automatically made private. Check out our Confidentiality Request resources for individuals and courts.
- Explain how to update important documents, including your birth certificate and driver's license.
Health
We can help with:
- Insurance appeals if your coverage won't cover gender-affirming care
- Gender-affirming care can include hormone therapy, puberty blockers, counseling, surgeries, and more.
- Complaints against doctors or staff who treated you badly because you are LGBTQ+
Workplace
We can help:
- Represent you if you were treated unfairly at work for being LGBTQ plus, including if you were fired.
- File a complaint if you experienced harassment at work for being LGBTQ
- This can include coworkers using insults or slurs, unwanted physical touch, being called the wrong name or pronouns, and more.
Immigration
We can help:
- Apply for a U visa if you are a survivor of a crime
- Update your immigration legal status through Adjustment of Status
- Apply for naturalization or renew your work permit
Education
We can help:
- Share public comment at school board meetings
- Submit a complaint if a student is bullied or harassed for being LGBTQ+
- Submit a complaint if a student is being mistreated by staff, including:
- Not being called by their name or pronouns
- Being unable to dress according to their gender identity
- Being denied access to restrooms, locker rooms, or sports that align with their gender identity
Services for Community Partners
CRLA also offers LGBTQ-focused workshops and Know Your Rights trainings to public agencies and organizations that support LGBTQ+ people. Contact us for more information: (800) 567-5339 or [email protected]
