Jay Kaplan Headshot

Jay Kaplan

Pronouns: He/him/his

Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Rights Project Staff Attorney

Legal

Bio

Jay has been staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBTQ+ Project since it began operations in 2001. Among the issues he has worked on include: challenging undercover sting operations targeting gay men, protecting the right of same-sex couples to jointly adopt their children, marriage equality and the benefits associated with marriage, access to state identity documents for transgender residents, and the Aimee Stephens case, which went to the United States Supreme Court, where the Court held in Bostock v Clayton County that LGBTQ+ employees are protected against discrimination under federal civil rights laws. Jay’s work has been recognized by the Michigan State Bar (Unsung Hero), the National Education Association (Virginia Uribe Civil Rights), and Michigan Lawyers’ Weekly (Lawyers Hall of Fame).

Featured Work

News & Commentary
Volleyball

Opinion: How Trans Kids Became Political Targets

ACLU attorney Jay Kaplan dismantles the myths behind trans sports bans.
News & Commentary
Jay Kaplan Headshot

Uniting with Trans People: Why Solidarity Is Essential for the Whole LGBTQ+ Community

The community must rally together in the face of Trump's anti-trans agenda.

Related Content

News & Commentary
Aimee Stephens at the Supreme Court
  • The Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ Project

Inside the Supreme Court's First Transgender Rights Case

Aimee Stephens was not prepared for the outpouring of affection that greeted her when she emerged from the U.S. Supreme Court after witnessing history in the making. The Court’s nine justices, for the first time ever, had just heard oral arguments in a case involving a transgender person.