WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today released an issue brief on LGBT families.  The brief outlines some of the major issues LGBT families face in America, including lack of legal protections and discriminatory laws and federal policies, and serves as an overview ahead of the White House LGBT Conference on Families to be held tomorrow in Minneapolis.  Bryan Samuels, Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human Services; Stuart Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, Department of Justice; and Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) will deliver remarks at the conference.  It is the fifth in a series of LGBT conferences hosted by the White House across the country.

“Families headed by same-sex couples face far too many obstacles as they simply try to live a good life and raise children,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “The White House LGBT Conference on Families will help shine a light on the barriers LGBT families face, and what can be done to make our nation family-friendly.”

This weekend’s conference will be held at Burroughs Community School in Minneapolis in conjunction with Family Equality Council’s Midwest Conference and will begin with a morning plenary followed by afternoon workshops. Participants will receive important updates from senior administration officials from the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Personnel Management on issues related to LGBT families.

HRC’s issue brief on LGBT families can be viewed at http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/hrc-issue-brief-families.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.