Marriage News
Amended Complaint Filed in DOMA Challenge
On Friday, July 31, GLAD filed an amended complaint in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, our lawsuit challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act.
In the amended complaint, we officially added tax plaintiffs Mary and Dorene Bowe-Shulman and Marlin Nabors and Jonathan Knight. We …
Commonwealth Files Suit Challenging DOMA Sec 3
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley today announced that the Commonwealth has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
The suit, Commonwealth v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, states that “In enacting …
Campaign to Save Maine Marriage Equality Underway
When Maine Governor John Baldacci signed marriage equality into law on May 6, equality advocates knew the battle was not over. Opponents have launched their latest assault in the form of a referendum campaign to subject marriage equality to a so-called people’s veto. But with the creation of the …
Statement of Mary Bonauto on DNC Fundraiser
There have been recent discussions regarding whether our LGBT community should support the Democratic National Committee (DNC) at an upcoming fundraiser. For the reasons below, I have decided that I will not be attending that fundraiser next week.
I was invited as a guest, and not as a …
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 …