Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Women's Law Project

As we celebrate Pride Month, we’re proud to highlight the vital work of the Women’s Law Project (WLP)—a trailblazing nonprofit legal organization that has been advancing gender justice and LGBTQ+ rights for more than 50 years.

Founded in Philadelphia in 1974, the Women’s Law Project was created by a group of visionary attorneys determined to harness the power of the newly enacted Pennsylvania Equal Rights Amendment. Their goal was clear and bold: to build state-based legal and constitutional power to advance equality for women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Over the decades, WLP has become a cornerstone of gender justice advocacy across Pennsylvania, tackling a wide range of interconnected issues. From fighting for equal pay and workplace protections to ensuring inclusive education under Title IX, WLP’s work consistently centers those who have been marginalized or excluded from legal protections. Their approach is multifaceted—combining major impact litigation, policy advocacy, direct legal assistance, and community education—to challenge systemic discrimination and expand access to justice.

At the heart of WLP’s mission is a deep commitment to reproductive and bodily autonomy, which the organization identifies as a keystone right that underpins many other civil liberties. In the wake of the Dobbs decision and a growing national backlash against reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, WLP is expanding its work and capacity to meet the urgent needs of communities under attack.

One of WLP’s most significant ongoing efforts is its leadership in Allegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, a case challenging the state’s statutory ban on Medicaid coverage for abortion care. Filed in 2019, the case represents a broad coalition effort that includes WLP, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, law professor David S. Cohen, and others. The case reached a historic milestone last year when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed a long-standing precedent that had weakened the state Equal Rights Amendment for decades, declaring the Medicaid ban “presumptively unconstitutional” and reviving robust constitutional protections against sex-based discrimination in Pennsylvania.

This legal victory not only strengthens reproductive rights in the Commonwealth—it restores a foundational legal tool for fighting gender discrimination in all forms.

WLP’s commitment to LGBTQ+ equality is equally strong and growing. Recognizing the escalating threats to transgender rights and safety, the organization has significantly expanded its LGBTQ+ legal work. WLP attorneys provide pro bono legal support to transgender individuals who are unlawfully denied gender-affirming care, as well as amicus representation for coalitions supporting LGBTQ-inclusive school policies and curricula.

Informed by the belief that reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights are deeply intertwined, WLP engages in ongoing advocacy and community education to highlight the shared legal and logistical challenges facing these communities. Their work underscores a powerful truth: bodily autonomy, safety, and dignity are universal rights—and they must be protected for all.

At 51 years strong, the Women’s Law Project continues to grow, adapt, and lead. Their unwavering dedication to building a more just and equitable Pennsylvania stands as an inspiring reminder that progress is possible—even in the face of adversity.

As we honor Pride Month, we are proud to stand in solidarity with the Women’s Law Project and the clients, advocates, and communities they serve every day.

Learn more about their work at www.womenslawproject.org.