Lambda Legal Secures $285 Million To Defend LGBTQ+ Rights In Courts And Beyond

June 12, 2025 Melissa Sinaly

Lambda Legal marches in LA Pride Parade carrying signs that say "Say Gay! Say Lesbian! Say Trans! Say Bisexual!"

Lambda Legal just raised $285 million ($105 million over its goal) to fight the relentless tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ+ laws across the U.S.

Since its founding in 1973, Lambda Legal has served as one of the most effective and enduring legal forces fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Long before there were national conversations about marriage equality or trans rights in schools, Lambda was laying the groundwork for the legal recognition, protection, and dignity of queer lives. Their track record includes some of the most consequential civil rights victories of the last half-century.

One of their most historic wins came in Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court case that struck down state sodomy laws and decriminalized same-sex intimacy nationwide. In 2015, they helped secure marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges. They’ve successfully fought for the rights of LGBTQ+ youth to be safe in schools, the rights of workers to be free from discrimination, and the rights of service members to continue serving with dignity. In 1983, Lambda Legal won the country’s first case against HIV-based discrimination by an insurance company.

Now, Lambda Legal is pushing forward with renewed urgency. Their latest initiative, the Unstoppable Future campaign, launched in response to the tidal wave of more than 1,800 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the U.S. in recent years. What was initially a bold $180 million fundraising goal has become something historic: As of May 2025, Lambda Legal announced that the campaign had raised $285 million—$105 million over its target. The funds will enable Lambda to scale its work in critical ways, including expanding its full-time legal team by over 40%.

Most recently, Lambda Legal helped win a major court ruling that protects LGBTQ+ and HIV service organizations from being defunded by the government. A federal judge temporarily blocked executive orders that would have taken money away from nonprofits simply because they support LGBTQ+ people or talk about gender and inclusion. The ruling means places like the Los Angeles LGBT Center can keep doing their work without fear of losing funding. It’s a powerful example of how Lambda Legal steps in to stop attacks on our communities and keeps critical services running when they’re needed most.

Lambda Legal helped build the foundation for LGBTQ+ rights in America. And with this newly funded campaign, they’re ready for whatever comes next.