Civil Rights Project News
Spirit of Justice to Honor John Ward
GLAD founder John Ward made history in 1978. He was the first openly gay male lawyer to practice in Boston. He fought against anti-gay measures in the city. And he started an organization that would win vital legal and civil rights for LGBT and HIV+ people throughout New England and the …
Governor Patrick Signs Repeal of 1913 Law
Update: The anti-gay group MassResistance has filed paperwork for a referendum essentially to repeal the repeal of the 1913 law. In a letter, the Attorney General’s office deemed that the question meets the constitutional requirements for a referendum. MassResistance must now gather the …
Maine Voters Refuse to Sign Anti-Gay Ballot Petition
The organization spearheading Maine’s recent anti-gay referenda withdrew its most recent petition effort when state primary voters refused to sign the petition in sufficient numbers.
The measure would have eliminated sexual orientation from the non-discrimination law, reversed GLAD’s 2007 …
A Toast to Happiness and Equality: GLAD Congratulates California on its Wedding Day
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the organization whose successful lawsuit brought marriage equality to Massachusetts, today offered congratulations to California’s marrying same-sex couples, their families, friends, and allies.
Couples Marrying in CA Urged to “Make Change, Not Lawsuits”
Four LGBT legal organizations, including GLAD, and five other leading national LGBT groups have issued a statement entitled “Make Change, Not Lawsuits.” The statement explains that while couples who go to California to marry should ask friends, neighbors and institutions to honor their marriages, …
California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Marriage Equality!
The California Supreme Court has ruled in favor of marriage equality for same-sex couples. The Court issued its decision today stating that California laws barring same-sex couples from marrying are unconstitutional.
The California court has affirmed what we already know: that a society pledged …
GLAD Receives Belynda Dunn Award of Recognition
GLAD was honored to receive the 2008 Belynda Dunn Award at the annual Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast, in recognition of groundbreaking legal work securing rights and protections for people with HIV/AIDS.
In 2001, GLAD represented AIDS activist Belynda Dunn in her quest to get her private …
GLAD Joins Amicus Brief in Immigration/Asylum Case
GLAD has joined an amicus brief in an immigration/asylum case at the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit authored by Attorney Ilana Greenstein and the law firm of Kaplan, O’Sullivan & Friedman LLP on behalf of GLAD and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers’ Guild. The …
GLAD Files Brief in Iowa Marriage Case
GLAD has submitted an amicus brief on behalf of state and national LGBT organizations and a significant group of Massachusetts state legislators in a marriage equality case currently pending in the Iowa Supreme Court.
In the brief, GLAD describes the legal, political, and social landscape in …
Efforts Underway to Add “Gender Identity or Expression” to CT Non-Discrimination Law
Proposed legislation would add “gender identity or expression” to Connecticut’s non-discrimination law, thereby prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in education, employment, housing, public accommodations and lending. Should this bill pass, Connecticut will be …