Transgender Rights Project
The Law Foundation’s Transgender Rights Project, part of our Pro Bono Program, connects transgender youth and adults who live in Santa Clara County with volunteer attorneys who provide free legal help. We offer several projects to help community members protect their rights and address important legal needs.
Explore the programs below to learn about the services available and how to request assistance.
Name and Gender Marker Change Project
Having identity documents that reflect a person’s correct name and gender identity can make it easier and safer to work, travel, vote, access services, and navigate daily life. Through this project, trained pro bono volunteers help youth and adult clients remotely complete the forms needed to ask the court for a confidential legal name and/or gender marker change, which will then allow them to update their identity documents (such as birth certificates and driver’s licenses).
Sign up via the link above to receive free help getting a name and/or gender marker change at our clinic on September 14 at 5pm, hosted on Zoom!
Identity Document Change Project
Trained pro bono volunteers help youth and adult clients who have already received a name and/or gender marker remotely change court order update up to three identity documents to reflect their legal name and gender marker: Social Security records, birth certificates, and driver’s licenses or state IDs. Volunteers assist with filling out forms, identifying required supporting documents, and scheduling appointments.
SB 59 is a new California law that makes all newly filed name and/or gender marker change court cases automatically confidential beginning July 1, 2026. It also allows adults and minors whose cases were filed before that date to request retroactive confidentiality, meaning members of the general public cannot see or access the case online or in person. Through this project, trained pro bono volunteers help youth and adult clients ask the court to make their previously filed, currently publicly accessible cases fully confidential, providing greater privacy and protection.