University of Maryland Lab Faces Civil Rights Complaint Over Alleged Race-Based Practices

The University of Maryland's Lavender Lab, a research initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is under scrutiny following a civil rights complaint alleging that its practices discriminate based on race and ethnicity. The Equal Protection Project (EPP) filed the complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights, asserting that the lab's selection processes for an advisory board and research assistant positions may unlawfully prioritize non-White applicants.

The Lavender Lab focuses on health outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color, including studies on suicide and substance use. The EPP's complaint specifically questions the lab's LGBTQ+ Teens of Color Advisory Board and its research assistant selection criteria. According to EPP founder William Jacobson, federal funding mandates that institutions cannot discriminate in the administration of their programs, regardless of the targeted demographic.

"When you receive federal funding, you cannot discriminate in the administration of your programs," Jacobson stated. "You do not need to have an advisory board, you do not need to hire research assistants based on race to fulfill the purposes of this grant."

One of the lab's primary projects, examining alcohol use and misuse among sexual minority adolescents of color, has received substantial federal funding. NIH records indicate the project has garnered approximately $3.6 million in total federal obligations, with roughly $2.2 million disbursed at the time of the complaint. Additional funding of $695,192 for fiscal year 2026 was also noted.

The complaint cites an Instagram post from the lab's LGBTQ+ Teens of Color Advisory Board that stated it was "specifically looking for teens in the US who identify as both LGBTQ+ and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to join our board." The EPP argues that such language suggests race or ethnicity may influence the selection process. Board members are compensated for their involvement in reviewing research, providing feedback, and participating in professional development.

Furthermore, the EPP has raised concerns about the lab's research assistant program for undergraduate and master's students. While positions are generally unpaid, they may offer academic course credit or federal work-study opportunities. The lab's application materials encourage candidates from "traditionally marginalized backgrounds" and give "strongest consideration" to those with experience in "cultural humility, intersectionality, and social justice approaches" when researching LGBTQ and BIPOC communities.

"Discrimination based on race or ethnicity at institutions receiving federal funding is unlawful regardless of which group is targeted or benefits," Jacobson said. "Treating individuals as avatars of their demographic identity rather than as individuals with unique merits and circumstances undermines fairness, merit, social cohesion, and the rule of law."

The EPP is requesting that HHS investigate whether these practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs, and the non-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

The complaint also broadly questions federal funding for research that incorporates intersectionality, a framework the Lavender Lab uses to study how sexual-minority status, race, ethnicity, and structural oppression impact health outcomes. Jacobson called for tighter regulations on such funding, suggesting that "intersectionality" could be considered a loophole in the ban on discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in federal grantmaking.

Representatives from the University of Maryland, HHS, and the White House have been contacted for comment.