ISSUES
Marriage & Family
Marriage and family are the foundation on which human civilization is built.
At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe government policy should reflect the truth about God’s created order: that biological differences between men and women matter, that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and that children are best cared for by their moms and dads.
Today, gender ideology poses the greatest threat to these fundamental realities. Already, it is being used to redefine human personhood, undercut protections for women, and justify subjecting children to irreversible surgeries and the administration of potentially sterilizing hormones. These efforts must be opposed.
How do we defend your rights?
Marriage and family are vital God-created institutions that precede the government and directly shape the next generation.
We oppose efforts by governments to subject children to harmful, experimental, and often-irreversible procedures that purport to “change” their gender.
We defend the definition of “sex” as based solely on biology. Human beings are made immutably male or female, and the law should reflect this fundamental reality.
We work to enact and defend laws that affirm legitimate differences between the sexes, including laws that protect intimate, sex-specific spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers.
At ADF, we know that when government policy reflects false ideas about marriage and family, real people—often women and children—are harmed.
We uphold the fundamental truths of Genesis 1:26-27 that all people are created male or female in the image of God, equal in dignity and worth.
We’re taking the federal government to task. The Biden administration’s attempt to redefine “sex” in federal law threatens equal opportunities for women and cannot be allowed to stand.
We recognize that in a culture rebelling against God’s designs for sexuality, Christian marriage is as significant and life-giving as ever.
Legal cases
Boe v. Marshall
The Biden administration and activist groups are challenging an Alabama law that protects children from harmful and unnecessary procedures.
B.P.J. v. West Virginia State Board of Education
West Virginia’s law protecting women’s sports was designed to ensure female athletes can compete on a safe and fair playing field. ADF is representing a former female athlete to help defend the state law.
Roe v. Critchfield
Activists are challenging an Idaho law that protects the privacy, safety, and dignity of all K-12 students in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, and overnight stays.
Stay up to date
Subscribe to The Brief for the latest case updates and cultural commentary on ADF’s work to protect the truth about marriage, family, and the differences between men and women.
Learn more about marriage and family
Marriage and Family Are Still the Foundation of Civilization
Strong marriages and strong families still form the foundations for a healthy society and human flourishing.
Redefining ‘Sex’ Threatens Title IX
Title IX was created to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities in education and related activities, including sports. But by redefining “sex” in the Title IX rules to include “gender identity,” the Biden administration has turned Title IX on its head.
How Gender Theory Undermines Reality
Proponents of “gender theory” have contributed to undermining one of the most foundational realities of what it means to be human: the fact that we are created male or female. Read this breakdown of the history of gender theory and how it’s affecting our society for the worse.