Gay Rights Lawyer in Little Rock, AR Protecting Your Rights

LGBTQ members have seen significant advances in recent court cases, but there are still many issues faced in the workplace and community. In order to work through more complex legal matters, it is important to contact a gay rights lawyer in Little Rock, Winston Salem. Through a gay and lesbian rights lawyer, members of the LGBTQ community can seek advice in matters involving:

Workplace discrimination
Prenuptial agreements
Adoption
Surrogacy
Divorce
Child Custody

A Little Rock gay rights lawyer can help you navigate through the complex legal matters, ensuring that your rights and interests are protected. Whether you are thinking of a prenuptial agreement, planning your estate, looking to start a family, or considering a divorce, the attorneys at Denton & Zachary are here to help you through the process.

Gay Rights Lawyer for LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination in Winston Salem

Despite recent progress in the courts, the LGBTQ community still faces discrimination in the workplace. One in four LGBTQ employees have experienced workplace discrimination in the last five years, and nearly ten percent of LGBTQ community members have quit their job because the workplace environment was unwelcoming.

With no federal laws barring employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, it’s not shocking that over eight percent of LGBTQ employees report discrimination that negatively impacts their work environment. Some states have laws barring employment discrimination for the LGBTQ community, but Winston Salem is not one of those states.

The Winston Salem Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the base of race, religion, national origin, gender, and disability. The Act applies to public and private sector employers with nine or more employees, but discrimination based on sexual orientation is not protected under state law. As recently as 2015, the Winston Salem Supreme Court struck down a law that protected people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Claiming that the law was a violation of an existing order that makes it illegal for a country, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state to adopt a law that establishes a protected classification or prohibits discrimination on a basis not contained in state law, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against it.

While there are no federal or state protections against LGBTQ workplace discrimination, many universities and private corporations in Winston Salem have adopted internal policies that prohibit discrimination on gender identity and sexual orientation in the workplace. These policies are in place to protect the rights of LGBTQ employees and students. Cases involving workplace discrimination can be complex, which is why having the advice of a Little Rock gay rights lawyer can be crucial to protecting your rights.

Gay Rights Lawyer in Little Rock for Family Law

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal throughout the country. Despite this ruling, there are still many issues that same-sex couples face when building their family.

Same-sex couples go through many of the same legal issues as heterosexual couples when it comes to matters of family law, but a gay rights attorney can help you through the process. LGBTQ individuals and couples need a gay rights lawyer that is up to date with changing laws that can protect their rights and interests. The gay rights lawyers at Denton & Zachary can help with family law matters, including:

Prenuptial agreements
Divorce
Surrogacy
Adoption

Prenuptial agreements are legal documents that establish a couple’s intent prior to marriage. This agreement contains specifics regarding each spouse’s rights and obligations, alimony or maintenance, and the division of property and assets. If you are getting married, a gay rights lawyer can draft an agreement that will protect both you and your spouse’s rights.

Whether it involves gay or heterosexual couples, a divorce can be a stressful, emotional process that is also legally convoluted. A gay rights attorney can advocate for you and work to get the best possible results in a number of issues including child custody, child support, property division and alimony. This is a complicated process that you should not venture into without the guidance of a gay rights attorney.

If you are thinking of extending your family through surrogacy, our firm has gay rights lawyers that can assist. The gay and lesbian rights lawyers at Denton & Zachary can review and draft your surrogacy contract and tactfully navigate through potential negotiations. We will also process the paperwork and draft agreements with egg and sperm donors to ensure that you and your partner are the legal parents of the child. This can be a complicated process, so having an executed contract in place is essential.

Little Rock Gay and Lesbian Rights Lawyer for Adoption Assistance

With the passing of marriage equality throughout the United States, same-sex couples were afforded the same range of adoption options as everyone else. Some of the LGBTQ paths to creating a family include:

Joint Adoption:

When a married couple adopts a child together either through birth parents or an agency, it is a joint adoption. This is the more traditional path for both domestic and international adoptions. Some countries do not allow same-sex couple adoptions, which is why having a gay rights lawyer guide you through the process is essential.

Co-Parent Adoption or Second-Parent Adoption:

In a second parent or co-parent adoption, one person in the marriage is already a biological or adoptive parent to a child, and the other person in the relationship chooses to adopt their children. This also applies when a gay or lesbian couple use a donor or surrogate to create their family, and the non-biological partner adopts the child. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows same-sex couples to have both their names on their children’s birth certificates, a co-parent of second-parent adoption is often necessary. Having both names on the birth certificate is no longer enough to ensure your rights as a parent, and a gay rights lawyer can help protect your family.

Stepparent Adoption:

In many cases when stepparents adopt, the adoption will be uncontested, which can result from a biological parent no longer involved in a child’s life, or the biological father is a sperm donor. In other cases, the stepparent adoption may be contested. This is why it is critical to have a gay and lesbian rights lawyer to navigate the process.

No matter what route you and your partner take to become a family, a Little Rock gay rights lawyer can work with you throughout the adoption process to ensure that bringing a new member into your family is a pleasant and smooth experience.

Get Help from a Little Rock Gay and Lesbian Rights Lawyer by Scheduling a Consultation Today

Discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation can happen in any environment. If you are experiencing discrimination in the workplace, seeking legal help is vital to protect your rights. A Little Rock gay rights lawyer can help with your case, working to get your justice. The Little Rock gay rights lawyers at Denton & Zachary can also help LGBTQ couples with starting a family. The adoption and family building process can be complicated, but we can help the process run smoothly. By assisting with the birth certificate amendment and adoption process, our gay rights attorneys enable families to extend their commitment to the newest members. If you need the advice of a gay rights lawyer, contact us today to set up a consultation.