Civil Rights Project News
Victory! Maine Voters Say Yes to Marriage Equality
Mainers have said YES to marriage equality and soon all Mainers will be able to marry the person they love.
“Tonight we are thrilled, grateful, and humbled,” says Lee Swislow, GLAD’s Executive Director. “We give our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to the people of Maine for listening with …
SJC: Massachusetts Recognizes California Registered Domestic Partnerships
In an important decision issued today, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously that Massachusetts must recognize other states’ parallel spousal statuses for same-sex couples, such as California registered domestic partnerships. Under the ruling, both spouses are the legal …
GLAD Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Pedersen DOMA Challenge
Today, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) asked the Supreme Court to review Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management, a lawsuit challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits federal recognition of the marriages of same-sex couples. GLAD is representing six …
GLAD Lawsuit Results in Another Federal Court Striking Down DOMA Section 3
Today, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional as a violation of equal protection guarantees. Her ruling comes with respect to claims brought by six married same-sex couples and one widower from the states of Connecticut, New …
SJC: Civil Unions Equivalent to Marriage
In an important unanimous decision issued today, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled for the first time that a civil union must be treated as equivalent to marriage.
The ruling came in the case Elia-Warnken v. Elia. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) represented Richard Elia, …
Motion to Stop Proceedings in DOMA Case Denied
On July 4, Judge Vanessa L. Bryant of the U.S. District Court of Connecticut, denied the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group’s (BLAG) motion to stay the proceedings in Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management, the challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) now pending in federal court in the …
GLAD To Respond to DOJ, BLAG Petitions for Supreme Court Review of DOMA Case Gill
DOJ Filing Follows Last Week’s BLAG Move
GLAD will respond by August 2 to the petition filed last night by the Department of Justice for certiorari in the case Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOJ’s filing comes on the heels of …
Congressional Leadership Seeks Supreme Court Review of GLAD’s DOMA Case Gill
Case Could be Decided in 2012-2013 SCOTUS Term
Congressional leadership in the form of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) today filed a petition for certiorari in the case Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
The petition …
BLAG Moves to Stop Proceedings in Pedersen v. OPM
The Bi-Partisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) has filed a motion to stay the proceeding in Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management, GLAD’s second challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) now pending in federal court in the District of Connecticut.
The case involves six married couples …
U.S. First Circuit Appeals Court Unanimously Rules DOMA Unconstitutional
In a 3-0 ruling, the First Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the U.S. District Court decision in GLAD’s case Gill v. Office of Personnel Management finding the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional.
This marks the first time that a Federal Appeals Court has found DOMA …