The ACLU of Tennessee stands up for equality, fairness and justice in the courts. Through our impact litigation and other legal advocacy, we’re fighting for you. ACLU’s legal advocacy in Tennessee spans from the historic Scopes “Monkey Trial” and representation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the sanitation workers’ march in Memphis, to ensuring access to private prison records, protecting families’ religious freedom rights, advocating for gay and lesbian parents who were denied visitation with their children, defending voters’ right to have their ballots counted, and much more. You can learn more about specific cases below.
On June 24, 2025, the ACLU of Tennessee filed a lawsuit challenging Public Chapter No. 1, formerly SB 6002/HB 6001, an anti-immigrant law passed during the 2025 state legislative session...
Tennessee’s Aggravated Prostitution statute enhances sex work convictions from a misdemeanor to a felony, solely based on HIV status, which has long been recognized as a disability protected from...
In October 2023, to protect the freedom of speech and expression of LGBTQ+ community members and drag performers, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, ACLU, Ballard Spahr, and Burr Forman filed...
Blount Pride, Inc. (“Blount Pride”) planned a Pride event that would feature drag performances, including a performance by drag queen Flamy Grant. The event was to occur on September 2, 2023 at Maryville...