Gender Justice is a left-of-center public interest law firm and advocacy organization based in Minnesota that employs both legal action and lawsuits as well as lobbying and organizing to promote left-of-center gender-related issues. The group was founded around 2013 and has filed lawsuits in many states alleging discrimination against women and transgender individuals. The organization is led by Megan Peterson, who previously was deputy director for the National Network of Abortion Funds and worked for several other pro-abortion organizations including Planned Parenthood of Minnesota. Among the main focuses of the organization’s legal and advocacy efforts include securing and expanding abortion access and filing lawsuits against school districts on behalf of transgender students alleging discrimination. ^{1 2}

Background

Gender Justice was founded in 2010 by attorneys Jill Gaulding and Lisa Stratton. The organization’s first public-facing activity was organizing a protest against a Saudi prince who fired two female chauffeurs allegedly due to their gender. In 2012 the organization settled its first case against SMS Holdings, wherein the company agreed to change its sexual harassment training and enforcement policies. That same year, the organization assembled its first board of directors with fiscal support from the Minnesota Women’s Foundation. ³

Activity

In 2012, the organization assembled its first board of directors with fiscal support from the Minnesota Women’s Foundation. In 2014, it expanded its work into lobbying on public policy and supported the passage of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act in the Minnesota State Legislature. The organization stated that its staff “drafted laws, rallied supporters, testified in committee hearings, and spent countless hours at the capitol countering the many false claims made by lobbyists defending of the status quo” as part of its advocacy for the legislation. ⁴

The organization has also long engaged on transgender issues and sued in federal court in Minnesota under “a new civil rights law” in the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) on behalf of a transgender client. A federal court in Minnesota ruled that “Section 1557’s ban on sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of transgender status.” ⁵

In 2019, the organization also filed a complaint in 2019 with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights against USA Powerlifting, defending the ability of a transgender woman born male to participate in women’s powerlifting competitions. ⁶

The organization has also taken several actions concerning transgender students, suing a Minnesota school district alleging discrimination against a transgender student who was required to “use segregated changing facilities.” The organization stated that “Hundreds of school districts around the country allow transgender students to use facilities based on who they are. These policies enhance safety.” ⁷

Coalitions

Gender Justice was among over 200 LGBT-related left-of-center organizations that criticized Target and other companies such as Anheuser-Busch after Target “reluctantly decided last week to pull some Pride Month merchandise from its shelves.” The coalition of groups, led by the Human Rights Campaign, urged Target to “provide necessary security for employees, restore Pride merchandise to its shelves, and stand by its commitment to the values it has long professed.” ⁸

The organization has also joined the Keep Birth Control Co-Pay Free Campaign as a state partner and the pro-abortion UnRestrict Minnesota coalition. ⁹

1. “Timeline.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/timeline/
2. “Staff & Board.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/staff-board/
3. “Timeline.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/timeline/
4. “Women’s Economic Security Act.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/work/womens-economic-security-act-wesa/
5. “Securing Rights Through the ACA.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/work/securing-coverage-in-the-aca/
6. “Timeline.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/timeline/
7. “N.H. v. Anoka-Hennepin School District.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/work/supporting-trans-students-in-school/
8. Killian, Joe. “More than 100 organizations call on Target, other businesses to stand up to anti-LGBTQ threats.” NC Newsline. June 1, 2023. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://ncnewsline.com/2023/06/01/more-than-100-organizations-call-on-target-other-businesses-to-stand-up-to-anti-lgbtq-threats/
9. “Timeline.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/timeline/