Advocates for Trans Equality

Advocates for Trans Equality is the premier national legal and political advocacy organization dedicated to securing full equality and civil rights for transgender and nonbinary people. Formed in 2024 through the historic merger of the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, both founded in 2003, the organization combines decades of high-impact federal litigation, grassroots policy advocacy, and community education across the country.

The organization leads groundbreaking impact litigation in federal and state courts to dismantle systemic discrimination in healthcare, employment, public accommodations, education, and incarceration. Through the Trans Health Project, the legal team challenges discriminatory health insurance exclusions and expands access to gender-affirming medical care. Its Name Change Project partners with top pro bono law firms to provide free legal representation to low-income transgender individuals seeking accurate legal identity documents.

In policy and research, the organization administers the landmark U.S. Trans Survey, the largest and most comprehensive study of transgender experiences, discrimination, and resilience in American history. The organization also runs the Trans Legal Services Network, coordinating hundreds of pro bono attorneys nationwide, and mobilizes nonpartisan voter turnout to defend transgender rights at local, state, and federal levels. Transgender individuals seeking legal resources can access self-help identity guides online. Supporters can get involved by volunteering, joining advocacy campaigns, or making tax-deductible financial donations.