Bio
Chase Strangio is Co-Director of the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project as well as a nationally recognized expert on transgender rights. Chase’s work includes impact litigation, as well as legislative and administrative advocacy, on behalf of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV across the United States.
Prior to joining the ACLU, Chase was an Equal Justice Works fellow and the Director of Prisoner Justice Initiatives at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, where he represented transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in confinement settings. In 2012, Chase co-founded the Lorena Borjas Community Fund, an organization that provides direct bail/bond assistance to LGBTQ immigrants in criminal and immigration cases. Chase is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law and Grinnell College.
Chase was counsel in the ACLU’s challenge to North Carolina’s notorious HB2, Carcaño, et al. v. Cooper, et al, the ACLU’s challenge to Trump’s trans military ban, Stone v. Trump, and the case of Aimee Stephens, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v EEOC, which resulted in a landmark 6-3 ruling from the Supreme Court finding the 1964 Civil Rights Act's prohibition on sex discrimination in employment extended to discrimination against LGBTQ workers.
On December 4, 2024, Strangio presented oral arguments on behalf of the private plaintiffs in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a landmark Supreme Court challenge brought by three families and a medical provider against a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth.
Selected Appearances:
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Selected Commentary:
, TIME , Slate; , Quartz; , The Progressive
Awards & Honors:
Harvard Law School, Wasserstein Fellow (2018-19); Association of LGBTQ Journalists, Excellence in Opinion/Editorial Writing Award (2018); Honorary Degree recipient, Grinnell College (May 2018); National LGBT Bar Association, Top 40 LGBT Lawyers Under 40 (2018); Northeastern University School of Law Daynard Distinguished Visiting Fellow (Winter 2018); Callen-Lorde Community Health Award Recipient (November 2017); BitchMedia “Bitch 50” Recognition of 50 individuals who have used their “creative or political power to further advance visibility, equality, or access for marginal folks.” (Summer 2017); NBCOut #Pride30 Recipient (Summer 2017); Sylvia Rivera Law Project Attorneys and Advocates Award recipient (2015); New York City Council Outstanding LGBT Champion recognition (June 2014); Trans100 Recipient (2014)
Featured work
Jul 26, 2017
With Three Tweets President Trump Cruelly Threatens Trans Service Members With Rank Discrimination
Jul 18, 2017
Lawmakers in Texas Are Returning to the Capitol for More Anti-Trans Discrimination
May 22, 2017
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Will Have Blood on His Hands if He Signs Two Anti-LGBTQ Bills Before Him
May 15, 2017
After Seven Years in Custody, Chelsea Manning Will Soon Be Free
Apr 18, 2017
With North Carolina, the NBA, and the NCAA Caving on Trans Rights, Texas Finds New Momentum for Discrimination
Mar 30, 2017
Don’t Be Fooled by North Carolina, There Is No Repeal of The Anti-Trans HB2, Only More Discrimination.
Mar 9, 2017
Texas Looking to Follow North Carolina’s Shameful Lead in Targeting Transgender People
Mar 2, 2017
Medical Associations, School Administrators, and More Submit Briefs to the Supreme Court in Support of Transgender Student
Feb 8, 2017
This Supreme Court Case Could Affect Trans Lives for Generations