The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities. Every day TLC connect transgender people and their families to technically sound and culturally competent legal services, increase acceptance and enforcement of laws and policies that support California's transgender communities, and work to change laws and systems that fail to incorporate the needs and experiences of transgender people.

TLC, begun in 2002 as a fiscally sponsored project of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, is California's first fully staffed, state-wide transgender legal organization. In the spring of 2005, TLC became an independent, tax-exempt organization.

TLC utilizes direct legal services, public policy advocacy, and educational opportunities to advance the rights and safety of diverse transgender communities. TLC uses the term "transgender" to represent all of the innumerable genders and forms of gender expression that fall within and outside of stereotypical gender norms. TLC also understands, acknowledges, and resists non-gender based oppressions which limit people's ability to live in peace.

In addition to TLC's direct service and public education work, TLC is involved in significant, socially transformative public policy initiatives. In the past, they have worked to: draft and pass local and state anti-discrimination ordinances; help school districts create policies to protect transgender students; helped health care providers improve their services to transgender clients; and, worked with building owners and managers on issues related to public restroom access. Find out more about our ongoing projects here.

Everyday, TLC is working hard to make sure California is a state in which everyone, regardless of one's gender identity, can fully participate. We have a long way to go to transform the state into a place where we are all proud to live, but with your help and support we know we can get there.