Gender Justice League (GJL) is an advocacy group for

transgender A transgender (often shortened to trans) person has a gender identity different from that typically associated with the sex they were sex assignment, assigned at birth. The opposite of ''transgender'' is ''cisgender'', which describes perso ...

genderqueer Non-binary or genderqueer gender identities are those that are outside the male/female gender binary. Non-binary identities often fall under the transgender umbrella since non-binary people typically identify with a gender that is differ ...

, nonbinary, and

gender non-conforming Gender nonconformity or gender variance is gender expression by an individual whose behavior, mannerisms, and/or appearance does not match masculine or feminine gender norms. A person can be gender-nonconforming regardless of their gender identi ...

individuals in

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

State in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The group advocates for transgender legal, political, and medical rights as well as participating in protests, awareness raising, and fundraising events.

History

Gender Justice League was founded in 2012 by transgender activists and allies. In 2013 they organized the first Trans Pride Seattle, which has since taken place annually in June.

Focuses

SafeHouse Program

Gender Justice League's Community Security Program provides safety planning, resource navigation, and financial assistance services to transgender and gender diverse people who have experienced gender-based violence in Washington State.

Legal discrimination

Public Accommodation

One focus of Gender Justice League is curbing legislation that prohibits transgender individuals from using the bathroom that aligns with their

gender identity Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender. Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it. In most individuals, the various biological determinants of sex are congruent and consistent with the in ...

rather than their

sex assigned at birth Sex assignment (also known as gender assignment) is the discernment of an infant's sex, typically made at birth based on an examination of the baby's external genitalia by a healthcare provider such as a midwife, nurse, or physician. In the ...

, otherwise known as

bathroom bill A bathroom bill is the common name for legislation or a statute that denies access to public toilets by gender or transgender identity. Bathroom bills affect access to sex-segregated public facilities for an individual based on a determination o ...

s. Washington currently has a law that protects transgender individual's rights in public bathrooms, but GJL's activists are concerned about petitions that are trying to get rid of these laws and legal initiatives to overrule them.

Name changes

Gender Justice League has held legal clinics to help transgender individuals legally change their names. These clinics were specifically held between November 2016 and January 2017, due to the group's fear that newly elected president

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

might revoke transgender individual's ability to legally change their names once he was

inaugurated In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inau ...

. These clinics invited volunteers from various LGBTQ+ law organizations to do

pro bono ( English: 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. The term traditionally referred to provision of legal services by legal professionals for people who a ...

work, and the clinics served as many as 200 individuals. A problem arose, however, as the Gender Justice League wanted to provide money to those trying to change their names, but were unable to due to their tax status. GJL organized with

King County King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 2,269,675 in the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Washington, and the 12th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is Seattle ...

to be able to give individuals seeking a name change the money to do so without forfeiting their nonprofit status.

Military service

In 2017

Lambda Legal The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, better known as Lambda Legal, is an American civil rights organization that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) communities as well as people living with HIV/AIDS ( PWAs) throug ...

and

OutServe-SLDN OutServe-SLDN was a network of LGBTQ military personnel, formed as a result of the merger between OutServe and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. OutServe-SLDN was one of the largest LGBT employee resource groups in the world. OutServe was ...

filed a lawsuit on behalf of Gender Justice League against President

and the

U.S. Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, t ...

over the transgender military ban, proposed by Trump on July 26, 2017. In 2025, the

Human Rights Campaign Foundation The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LG ...

and

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, better known as Lambda Legal, is an American civil rights organization that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) communities as well as people living with HIV/AIDS ( PWAs) through ...

filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the constitutionality of

Executive Order 14183 Executive Order 14183, titled "Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness", is an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2025, banning transgender people from military service. In March 2025, a federal judge blocked ...

, the transgender military ban. The case, '' Human Rights Campaign Foundation & Lambda Legal v. Trump'', represents six actively serving transgender service members, one transgender individual seeking to enlist, and the GJL.

Political activism

Seattle politics

Gender Justice League supports various political causes within the city of Seattle, not all of which are strictly related to transgender issues. GJL has also supported other efforts within the city, including bills that strengthen tenant's rights.

Kshama Sawant Kshama Sawant ( ; born October 17, 1973) is an Indian-American politician and economist who served on the Seattle City Council from 2014 to 2024. She was a member of Socialist Alternative as the first and only member of the party to date to be ...

was the recipient of a Gender Justice Award in 2015 for her political activism supporting transgender individuals. Sawant has also donated money from her "solidarity fund" to GJL, citing their efforts to help transgender individuals as the reason for her donation.

Washington state politics

Gender Justice League is active in influencing Washington State politics. They have had an impact in organizing against bills that they believe would harm transgender individuals in Washington, including Washington Senate Bill 6443 and state ballot initiatives 1515 (2016) and 1552 (2017).

Events

Trans Pride Seattle

Gender Justice League organizes the annual Trans Pride Seattle, an event that is very similar to a

Gay Pride Parade A pride parade (also known as pride event, pride festival, pride march, or pride protest) is an event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, legal rights, and pride. The eve ...

. The event was first organized in 2013, a year after the organization was founded. The 2016 event drew upwards of 5,000 participants. Members of Gender Justice League claim that the event is a necessary space for transgender individuals and their allies to form community and overcome isolation.

Gender Justice Awards

Gender Justice League holds an annual awards ceremony called the Gender Justice Awards, in which they celebrate individuals who have supported the transgender community.

Solidarity Music Festival

In 2016, Gender Justice League helped organize the Solidarity Music Festival as a form of anti-capitalist protest.

References

{{Reflist, 30em 2012 establishments in the United States Organizations established in 2012 Transgender organizations in the United States 2012 establishments in Washington (state)