Civil Rights Project News
Rhode Island House Passes Marriage Bill
Rhode Island’s House of Representatives voted in favor of joining the five other New England states in enabling same-sex couples to legally marry. The vote was 51-19, and now moves on to the state Senate.
“Loving, committed same-sex couples marry for the same reasons as everyone else,” said …
BLAG Files Brief Defending DOMA at the U.S. Supreme Court
The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG), the party defending the constitutionality of Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has filed its opening brief in Windsor v. United States, pending at the U.S. Supreme Court. In the brief, BLAG argues that the intent of DOMA is not to …
History-Making Coalition Pushes for Rhode Island Marriage Equality in 2013
GLAD applauds today’s launch of Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, a broad coalition of LGBT advocates, clergy members, labor organizations, and civil rights leaders dedicated to achieving marriage equality in Rhode Island in 2013.
“GLAD is proud to take an active part in this history-making …
Dates Set for SCOTUS to Hear Prop 8, DOMA Arguments
The Supreme Court has set the dates it will hear oral argument in cases challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8.
The Court will hear argument in Hollingsworth v. Perry - the California marriage or “Prop 8” case on March 26. The Court will hear argument in …
Marriage Bill to Be Introduced in Rhode Island General Assembly
GLAD is working with Marriage Equality Rhode Island and other coalition partners to ensure gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders have the freedom to marry the person they love. With a bill being introduced to the General Assembly at the start of the 2013 legislative session this week, we are looking …
Married Same-Sex Couples in Maine Will Be Able to File Their State Taxes Jointly as Married
Married same-sex couples in Maine will be able to file their state taxes jointly as married, as reported in this Portland Press Herald article. For more information, contact GLAD’s InfoLine at 1-800-455-GLAD or gladlaw@glad.org.
December 29, 2012 is the earliest date that marriage licenses can …
Briefing Schedule Released in U.S. v. Windsor
The United States Supreme Court has released the briefing schedule for U.S. v. Windsor, the case the Court will hear this term challenging the constitutionality of Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Briefs on the jurisdictional question are due February 20. Briefs on the merits …
Supreme Court to Hear DOMA, Prop 8 Challenges
Today, the United States Supreme Court announced that it will hear arguments in United States v. Windsor which challenges the constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The Court also granted a hearing to Hollingsworth v. Perry, the challenge to California’s Proposition 8. …
Maine Marriage Law Effective on Dec. 29, 2012
Maine’s new freedom to marry law, which allows same-sex couples to receive a marriage license, will take affect on Saturday, Dec. 29.
According to the Office of the Secretary of State, the certified election results for the state were signed off on by Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday, Nov. 29. The …
No News from Supreme Court on DOMA Today
Update: No news from the Supreme Court today on DOMA, Prop 8 or other LGBT-related matters. The next day we are likely to hear something is Friday, December 7.