Gender Justice

ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We all have a right to a workplace free of harassment and discrimination, and a fair chance to grow and succeed. Longstanding barriers built into our economic systems limit women, people of color, LGB, trans and gender nonconforming people from accessing the economic opportunities they need to thrive.

FREEDOM FROM GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
There is no gender justice without safety from sexual harassment or gender-based violence. We fight on behalf of the many folks whose bodies have long been sites of violence and exploitation, working to upend unhealthy power dynamics and restore autonomy.

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM & JUSTICE
Deciding whether or when to become a parent is about freedom and control over our lives at the most basic level: our bodies, our families, our life’s path. We know too well that women and people who can get pregnant can never be equal in society without bodily autonomy and the ability to decide if, when and how to become a parent.

TRANS & LGBQ LIBERATION
Everyone, no matter who they love or how they identify, deserves to feel safe and supported in their community. We strive for a world where every person can live freely and safely as their true selves, no matter the beliefs of the people around them.

Partnerships and Coalition Building
Gender Justice takes a movement-based approach, joining with justice-minded partners so together we can build the knowledge base and relationships crucial to ensuring that all of our work reflects an appreciation of intersecting identities and experiences, and an understanding of gender, racial and economic justice.

Public Education
To realize the full potential of changing the law, we also change hearts and minds and build power for further change alongside our legal work. People need to not only know their rights, but also feel empowered and supported by cultural shifts to realize those rights. Our work around public education and understanding allows Gender Justice to make positive change within the law and within the broader culture.

Expert Legal Analysis
Gender Justice’s expert legal analysis comes from a deep understanding of how the law works, how it is enforced, and the impact it has on people’s real lives. Too often, the justice system is used as a tool for oppression. We have particular expertise in state and federal civil rights laws, including the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Title VII, Title IX, and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.

Policy Advocacy
Gender Justice advocates in the statehouse, Congress and across Minnesota on behalf of policies that advance gender equity. We promote new policies and laws, and work to stop those with the potential to undermine our freedoms, dignity and autonomy. We are a resource for lawmakers so they are more informed, confident and equipped to advocate for gender rights and equality.

Strategic and Impact Litigation
We believe in the power of the courts to create positive change. With the cases we take on, Gender Justice seeks to help not only individual clients, but other people or communities experiencing similar difficulties. Our cases clarify what the law actually means in practice, set powerful legal precedents on a particular issue, change the interpretation of the law, and raise new and important issues as yet unaddressed by the courts.

We have built a skilled team for financial, programmatic, and team management on both staff and board and have been successful managing complex financials. As our capacity continues to grow, so does the impact of our work; over the past five years we have increased staffing from 3 to 20 and our budget from $400K to over $3M. We recently received a large $930,000 grant from the Bush Foundation to expand our work into North Dakota and South Dakota.

Our leadership team brings valuable diversity and expertise to our organization, with a Legal Director who is a former public defender and Deputy Director with an extensive background as an organizational development and racial equity consultant.

Recognized nationally for her work, our Executive Director excels in coalition building, setting bold agendas, and leading organizations through impressive growth and transformation.

Our Special Projects Advisor, a groundbreaking figure, became among the youngest and first LGBTQ person endorsed as the democratic candidate for Lt. Governor in 2018 and currently serves as the State Senate's first Black queer woman.

Since 1992, our Political Director has spearheaded organizing, activism, fundraising, and policy advocacy for equity and justice, and notably led efforts to achieve marriage equality in Minnesota.

Our organization and team has received numerous awards and recognition for our work, including 2021 and 2022 Minnesota Lawyer Attorneys of Year, 2023 Twin Cities Pride LGBTQ+ Organization of the Year, 2022 Minnesota Women’s Press Changemaker Award, 2020 Lavender Bar Association Equality & Justice Award, and more.