New to the area? Unsure what your legal rights are? Here are some resources that may help!

Employment

How to advocate for LGBTQIA+ equality in the workplace to recruitment events and more.

HRC Resources

• Advocating for LGBT Equality in Your Workplace

• Coming Out at Work

• HIV/AIDS and Employment Discrimination

Transgender Employees

• Discrimination against Transgender Workers

• Resources for Transgender Employees

Career Development

• Workplace Links

• Out and Equal at Work Book

• Career Link

• LGBT Professional and Student Associations

• LGBT Professional Recruitment Events

Legal and other resources

• Non-Discrimination Laws: State by State

• Past Legislation Affection LGBT Rights Across The Country (2018)

• LGBTQ+ Veterans Addiction Resources
  

Legal

From adoption to changing your sex marker on your license, here’s what you need to know.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services provides three advance directive forms. The three forms are: Declaration to Physicians (Wisconsin Living Will), Power of Attorney for Health Care, Power of Attorney for Finance and Property.

From the HRC: Housing for LGBT People: What You Need to Know About Property Ownership and Discrimination

From DrugWatch: LGBTQ+ Comprehensive Health & Well-being Guide

What are my rights as an LGBT-identifying person living in…

Wisconsin:

Adoption – Yes. Wisconsin bans discriminating against prospective parents. However, same-sex couples may obtain joint adoption rights through a legal agreement. There is no explicit prohibition for a same-sex partner to petition to adopt a partner’s child or child of the relationship. Second-parent adoption is illegal.

Workplace Discrimination – Illegal, based on sexual orientation. Wisconsin was actually the first state in the nation to ban it in 1982. The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act prohibits employers, employment agencies, labor unions, licensing agencies, and other persons from discriminating against employees, job applicants, or licensing applicants because of their membership in specific protected categories, including sex. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency that enforces the federal anti-discrimination laws, has taken the position that an individual’s gender identity or transgender status constitutes a form of sex discrimination. (From the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development)

Gender Reassignment – Yes. To obtain a legal name change in Wisconsin, an applicant must submit a petition to the court. The applicant must publish a notice of the hearing in a newspaper once a week for three weeks prior to the hearing date, however, the publication requirement can be waived for the applicant’s safety. (From the National Center for Transgender Equality)

Minnesota:

Adoption – Yes. Single LGBTQ+ people can petition to adopt and same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt. No explicit prohibition on a same-sex partner petitioning to adopt a partner’s child or child of the relationship.

Workplace Discrimination – Banned. The law does allow religious organizations, youth groups, and certain small businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

Gender Reassignment – Yes. To obtain a legal name change in Minnesota, an applicant must submit a petition to the court and bring two witnesses to the court as proof of identity. There is no general publication requirement for adults, but there are publication requirements if the applicant has an interest in land or is a minor. (From the National Center for Transgender Equality)

Iowa:

Adoption – Yes. Single LGBTQ+ people can petition to adopt and same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt. No explicit prohibition on a same-sex partner petitioning to adopt a partner’s child or child of the relationship.

Workplace Discrimination – The Iowa Civil Rights Act  makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate on the basis of age (18 or older), race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability (physical or mental), or pregnancy, or to retaliate for opposition to discrimination or participation in proceedings. (From Workplace Fairness)

Gender Reassignment – Yes. In order to update the name on an Iowa ID, the applicant must submit a court order for a name change. The Iowa Department of Transportation addresses name changes here. In order for applicants born in Iowa to update the gender on an Iowa ID, they must submit an updated birth certificate. (From the National Center for Transgender Equality)

Education

If you’re considering higher education, this nifty guide can help you determine if it is a supportive campus.

Looking for something else? Contact us with your questions and we will try to get you in the right direction.

We understand the importance of supporting our community throughout their lives, including those making their way to college. Choosing the right college is a difficult process for anyone. As a student who identifies as LGBTQ this task becomes downright daunting as they must also try and find a place of acceptance, inclusion, and support.

To help LGBTQ students down this path, BestColleges.com has created a guide you can turn to while making your college decision.