Creating an Equal Maryland for all.
At FreeState Justice, our team uses free legal services and policy advocacy to create a state where all LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive.
Get the Help You Need
FreeState Justice has an amazing team of legal professionals who provide Marylanders with FREE legal services. Click the link below to learn how you can request services and get the help you need today.
Our Mission
FreeState Justice (FSJ) is Maryland’s oldest and leading statewide legal services nonprofit working to improve the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Marylanders. Through a combination of pro bono legal services, policy advocacy, and community education, we hope to create a truly inclusive Maryland for all.
Who We are
FreeState Justice is made up of fierce advocates from all across Maryland - and even some from across the country! With our various backgrounds in law, grassroots organizing, and political activism, our staff is always ready to meet whatever needs Maryland's LGBTQ+ communities may have!
COMMUNITY HARM REPORT
Use this form to report incidents, harmful experiences, or misinformation that impact LGBTQ people or
other vulnerable communities.
PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES
We provide direct legal services to low-income LGBT clients through its in-house counsel and pro bono attorney network. Request legal services today!
POLICY ADVOCACY
Our Policy Team works towards systemic law and policy changes through governmental advocacy. Learn about our Legislative priorities here!
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
FreeState conducts outreach activities designed to promote self-advocacy within the LGBTQ+ community across the state of Maryland! Stay tuned on our website and socials to learn about our upcoming events!
TRAINING & EDUCATION
FreeState provides educational training to Maryland lawyers and judges about LGBT legal needs. If you want to request a training, visit here!
Freestate calendar
Latest News
FreeState Justice and BLAQ Equity Baltimore (two of Maryland’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations) are proud to announce a formal partnership designed to deepen community engagement and amplify support for Black, trans, and gender-expansive Marylanders. BLAQ Equity Baltimore is a community-driven force for Black LGBTQIA+/SGL (Blaq) Marylanders. For more than two decades, it has worked tirelessly to showcase and preserve the cultural pride of Blaq communities, integrating principles of self-determination and transformative justice into the daily lives of everyone they interact with. Similarly, FreeState Justice has worked for many years as Maryland’s only statewide LGBTQ+ legal advocacy organization, bringing life-saving resources to those who need them most. Through pro bono legal services, community programming, and legislative advocacy, it fights daily to make Maryland a state where everyone can thrive. Together, the organizations are joining forces to build a more inclusive and equitable Maryland for all. “This partnership is about building power from the inside out,” said Phillip Westry, Esq., Executive Director of FreeState Justice. “BLAQ Equity Baltimore’s work is rooted in the same values that guide ours — dignity, self-determination, and a refusal to leave anyone behind. By joining forces, we’re investing in the collective liberation of every Blaq individual in Maryland.” This partnership includes a shared workspace, cross-organizational programming, and aligned advocacy initiatives, creating a unique model of collaboration that honors both organizations’ missions and strengths. With BLAQ Equity Baltimore now operating from FreeState Justice’s office, these organizations will be able to provide comprehensive support to any client in need. “This partnership will help meaningfully and intentionally bridge the gap between FreeState Justice and Black LGBTQIA+/SGL communities in Baltimore who may not always be aware of the legal and advocacy resources available to them,” said Christopher Henderson-West, Co-Executive Director of BLAQ Equity Baltimore . “It’s an important step in building awareness, establishing sustainable access, and providing direct support where it’s needed most. A beneficial and advantageous collaboration that has the potential to advance equity and inclusion not only citywide, but statewide." As two organizations committed to disrupting systems of harm and building infrastructure for healing and growth, this partnership represents a new chapter in Maryland-based LGBTQ+ advocacy. With each collaboration, FreeState Justice and BLAQ Equity Baltimore will center Black, trans, and gender-expansive freedom, steadily working towards cementing Baltimore — and Maryland as a whole — as a national model for inclusion. You can learn more about FreeState Justice here and BLAQ Equity Baltimore here .
FreeState Justice has launched our 2025 FSJ Policy Report!
This week, the Carlton R. Smith Jr. HIV Modernization Act (SB0356) takes effect in Maryland, a historic piece of legislation that repeals decades-old laws that criminalize people living with HIV. This marks a significant victory not only for every Marylander, but for FreeState Justice (Maryland’s leading LGBTQ+ legal services organization) and the broader coalition of advocates who have fought for years to pass this law. Behind this win lies countless hours of relentless advocacy from FreeState Justice, the Maryland HIV Coalition, and more than a dozen local and national partners. After coming close to passage in 2024 but ultimately failing, advocates launched a renewed campaign to carry this bill across the finish line and get it passed on May 20, 2025. FreeState Justice is honored to have played a key role in these advocacy efforts, raising awareness about the benefits of this legislation and implementing numerous community outreach efforts to support its passage. “The passage of this act is a long-overdue step toward justice for people living with HIV in Maryland,” said Phillip Westry, Esq., Executive Director of FreeState Justice . “For too long, outdated laws have targeted and punished people simply because of their HIV status — this legislation corrects that harmful mistake. We’re proud to have helped lead the coalition behind its passage and are honored to uplift the legacy of Carlton R. Smith Jr., whose life’s work made this moment possible.” FreeState Justice would like to extend its deepest gratitude to the partner organizations and legislative champions who helped pass this bill: Chair of the LGBTQ+ Caucus Delegate Kris Fair, Chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee Senator William C. Smith, and Senator Emeritus Shirley Nathan Pulliam. And, of course, the trailblazer who made this piece of legislation possible: Carlton R. Smith Jr., and his family for so graciously lending his name to this legislation. Carlton R. Smith Jr. is a beloved Black LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist, affectionately known as “The Duchess” by the many people who knew and loved him. Diagnosed with HIV in 1986 at 21 years old, Carlton turned his diagnosis into decades of advocacy for the dignity of people living with HIV. He co-founded Blaq Equity Baltimore, launched Baltimore BLAQ Pride, and spent his life pushing for policy change rooted in racial justice and LGBTQ+ pride. Carlton passed away in May 2024, and his legacy lives on in every person protected by this law. The passing of the Carlton R. Smith Jr. HIV Modernization Act will be felt most by Maryland’s LGBTQ+ communities—particularly Black and trans Marylanders—who have for too long been over-policed and imprisoned by this state’s outdated laws. By decriminalizing people living with HIV, the law removes a dangerous barrier to care and safety, reducing stigma and making it easier for people to seek related services without fear of prosecution. Not only that, but it also serves as a roadmap for activists across the country to enact similar changes in their own communities. It is truly a monumental piece of legislation, and FreeState Justice is honored to celebrate its taking effect. “The Carlton R. Smith Jr. HIV Modernization Act is proof that policy can evolve to match science, justice, and the lived realities of our communities,” said Ronnie L. Taylor, Community Impact Director at FreeState Justice. “For decades, Maryland’s HIV criminalization laws fueled stigma and fear rather than safety and care. I know how these laws have disproportionately harmed Black and LGBTQ+ Marylanders, pushing too many of us to the margins. This victory honors Carlton’s legacy and shows that when we center dignity and public health, we can rewrite laws that once wrote us out. With this passage, Maryland says clearly: our lives are not crimes.” If you or someone you know has questions about how the Carlton R. Smith Jr. HIV Modernization Act impacts them, please reach out to the FreeState Justice’s legal team here .
