Civil Rights Project News
GLAD DOMA Plaintiff Can Get Passport in Married Name
Keith Toney, a plaintiff in the lawsuit Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, will be able to get a U.S. passport in his married name. That is the result of a May 27, 2009 change in policy at the State Department regarding the issuance of passports to people who have changed their name after …
LGBT Groups Decry Obama Admin’s Defense of DOMA
LGBT Legal, Advocacy Groups Decry Obama Administration’s Defense of DOMA
We are very surprised and deeply disappointed in the manner in which the Obama administration has defended the so-called Defense of Marriage Act against Smelt v. United States, a lawsuit brought in federal court in …
NH Becomes 6th Marriage Equality State
The amended marriage equality bill passed both the New Hampshire Senate and House today. Governor Lynch signed the bill at 5:15 p.m., making New Hampshire the sixth state in the U.S. to embrace full marriage equality.
GLAD has been posting updates from the vote today via Twitter: …
LGBT Orgs Warn Lawsuits Could Set Back Progress on Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
In response to the California Supreme Court decision allowing Prop 8 to stand, four LGBT legal organizations and five other leading national LGBT groups are reminding the LGBT community that ill-timed lawsuits could set the fight for marriage back. The groups released a new publication, “Why the …
Governor Baldacci Signs Marriage Bill
Governor Baldacci signed the Maine marriage equality bill into law today.
“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Baldacci said in a written statement. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and …
Marriage Bill Passes Maine House
Maine’s House of Representatives voted 89 – 57 today in favor of the marriage equality bill that was passed last week by the Senate. Next, it goes to Governor Baldacci, who has said he is listening and keeping an open mind.
In the News:
New York Times: Same Sex …
Maine Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill
The Maine Senate voted 21 - 14 today to pass LD 1020, the marriage equality bill that GLAD has worked to advance with Maine partners. The bill passed without amendment, and will now be sent to the state House for consideration.
New York Times: Maine Senate Backs …
NH Senate Approves Marriage Equality, Fails on Transgender Rights
The New Hampshire Senate voted 13-11 Wednesday to pass civil marriage equality legislation, with an amendment that spells out certain implementation measures. The bill will now return to the House - which approved the original legislation last month - for reconciliation, before moving on to the …
GLAD Helps Make ME Hearing a Huge Success
Update: Judiciary Committee votes 11-3 that the marriage equality bill “ought to pass.” The next step is a vote in the full Senate.
Original Story:
The overwhelming success of the April 22 hearing on marriage equality in Maine was the result of a true team effort. For 3 years, GLAD has been a …
Vermont Becomes Fourth Marriage Equality State
This morning the Vermont House of Representatives voted 100 - 49 to override the Governor’s veto of the marriage equality bill. The Senate passed the override 23 - 5.
This makes Vermont the fourth marriage equality state in the US, and the third in New England. It is also the first state to …