All Press Releases
Major Step Toward Resolving Suit Seeking Civil Marriage
New England’s Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) today took its next major step in the pending legal suit seeking civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts by serving a motion for summary judgment with the Attorney General’s Office. The suit was filed in April, 2001 in …
GLAD Opposes Anti-Gay Ballot Initiatives
BOSTON—In formal filings today with Attorney General Thomas Reilly, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) asked the Office to reject two anti-gay ballot initiatives for failing to meet constitutional requirements by making sweeping changes to many laws.
According to GLAD, the ballot …
GLAD Files Suit for HIV-Positive Woman Denied Liver Transplant
(Boston, MA) Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), working with AIDS Action Committee, filed an emergency lawsuit in federal court on July 16, 20001 against an HMO which denied a life-saving liver transplant for Belynda Dunn, an AIDS Activist who has both HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and …
Rhode Island Adopts Transgender-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Law
On July 17, 2001 Rhode Island became the second state in the nation – following Minnesota in 1993 – to adopt a non-discrimination law that clearly prohibits discrimination against transgender people in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations. The law amends all of the state’s …
GLAD Criticizes Ruling In HIV Discrimination Case
(Boston, MA) Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) today strongly criticized a May 22, 2001 decision from the United States Court of Appeals in Boston, which ruled that a Leominster, MA obstetrician did not violate disability antidiscrimination laws when he refused to continue care for a …
MCAD Issues Probable Cause Ruling
(Boston, MA) The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (the MCAD) has issued a ruling finding probable cause that a Mendon, MA moving company violated Massachusetts law when it refused to provide moving services to a mother and her son with AIDS. The case, which was filed at the MCAD in …
RI House Passes Transgender-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Law
By a 46-41 margin, the Rhode Island House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill (H 5920) which would clarify that Rhode Island non-discrimination laws protect transgender people from discrimination. The bill codifies federal and state court decisions which have held that it is impermissible …
GLAD Seeking Civil Marriage for Lesbian and Gay Couples
Seven gay and lesbian couples from five counties throughout the Commonwealth, who were recently denied marriage licenses at their city or town halls, today filed suit in Suffolk Superior Court seeking the right to marry in Massachusetts. The plaintiff couples are represented by New England’s Gay & …
Appeals Court Decides Cases of Domestic Violence Involving Gay Men
The Massachusetts Appeals Court has decided its first known cases involving domestic violence between gay men. It ruled that a judge may not issue “mutual restraining orders” unless the judge makes written findings that the orders are warranted against both parties. While this case involved gay …
GLAD Settles Harassment Case with Massachusetts State Police
(Boston, Mass.) Today Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders announced the settlement of a court action against the Massachusetts State Police involving allegations of a particular Trooper improperly rousting a gay man (“John Doe”) from public areas. A key feature of the settlement involves the …