Iris Halpern

Iris Halpern is a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, with a career defined by advancing civil rights, expanding legal protections, and supporting inclusive communities. She served for years on the board of One Colorado, a leading advocacy organization, where she helped in statewide efforts to secure protections and advance the interests of LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. Her legal work has focused on breaking new ground in federal anti-discrimination law. Iris served as lead attorney on one of the first trio of lawsuits brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking coverage of gay and transgender employees under existing federal employment discrimination protections. She also filed the agency’s first case in Colorado on behalf of a transgender employee, helping to establish critical precedent in the fight for workplace equality. Today, Iris continues to fight for LGBTQ rights in her legal practice, including access to healthcare, protections from harassment, and employment security. She represents librarians and teachers across the country who have been terminated for refusing to implement homophobic and transphobic book bans, defending the freedom to learn, equal access to government institutions, and the importance of creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies.