FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2011

GLAD Statement on McLaughlin v. Panetta

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Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) issued a statement today regarding McLaughlin. v. Panetta, filed earlier today by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) in the District of Massachusetts.  GLAD has two cases underway challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), representing a total of 13 couples and 4 widowers from Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut harmed by DOMA.

Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, now pending in the First Circuit, won the first ruling of its kind (in July 2010) that DOMA is unconstitutional, and is the first case set to obtain an appellate ruling on DOMA.  Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management, filed in November 2010 in the federal court in Connecticut, is fully briefed at the district court level and is awaiting decision.

“We have enormous respect and empathy for the service men and women being hurt by DOMA, and for all families hurt by DOMA,” said Mary L. Bonauto, GLAD’s lead attorney on its two DOMA cases.  “Those couples are more great examples of how DOMA’s double standards make no sense.  DOMA violates the Constitution that our men and women in the military are risking their lives to uphold.”

Bonauto added, “We believe the best way to end the harm is through getting a positive appellate ruling as soon as possible, and we are working hard to strike the blow that will end DOMA in our Gill case.”