DC Marriage Equality Opponents Make Last Ditch Supreme Court Appeal
October 13, 2010
Today, Bishop Harry Jackson – who pastors a Maryland congregation and has been the leading voice against marriage equality in the District of Columbia – petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court [PDF] to hear a case attempting to put the rights of District citizens up to a vote of the people.
Continue Reading ►Florida Department of Children & Families Declines to Pursue Adoption Ban
October 12, 2010 by Sarah Warbelow
Today, George Sheldon, Director of Florida's Department of Children & Families (DCF) announced that the agencies will not appeal an intermediate court ruling that a 1977 prohibition on allowing gays and lesbians to adopt violates the state constitution. DCF has determined that the ruling is applicable statewide, therefore sexual orientation will no longer be a factor in uniting children with parents.
Continue Reading ►Judge Halts “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Discharges; Service Members Urged Not To Come Out
October 12, 2010 by Ty Cobb
Today, federal district court judge Virginia Phillips, followed her September decision striking down the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law as unconstitutional in a case brought by the Log Cabin Republicans by ordering the Department of Defense to immediately cease enforcement of the statute barring lesbians and gays from serving openly in the Armed Forces. However, because legislative repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still pending in the Senate, and because litigation of this case may not have yet reached its end, we encourage service members to remain cautious about disclosing their sexual orientation.
Continue Reading ►Developments in the Mass. DOMA Court Cases
October 12, 2010
This afternoon, the Department of Justice filed notice that they will appeal two decisions from this summer declaring the denial of federal rights and benefits to lawfully married Massachusetts couples under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to be unconstitutional. As you’ll recall, in July, Judge Joseph Tauro of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled against the government in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management and Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services. While the President and DOJ have repeatedly stated they believe DOMA to be discriminatory, they also argue that they have a duty to defend the statute enacted by Congress.
Continue Reading ►Coming Out For Equality In Minnesota
October 12, 2010
Last night hundreds of Minnesotans came together in honor of National Coming Out Day. Our event – “Coming Out For Equality” – was headlined by the DFL Lieutenant Governor candidate, State Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon, and featured surprise guest Alfre Woodard.
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Marriage
Today in History: Perry Challenge to California’s Prop 8 Filed in Federal Court
May 22, 2013
