All Press Releases
Court Orders State to Provide Health Care to Transsexual Woman
(Boston, MA) The Suffolk Superior Court today ordered the state to pay for breast reconstruction surgery for a transsexual woman, reversing its earlier denial. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (“GLAD”) represented the Plaintiff Germaine Beger in her appeal. Judge Maria Lopez found that a …
Court Grants Equal Benefits and Protections of Marriage
(Middlebury, Vermont) In a landmark decision, the Vermont Supreme Court today ruled in favor of three same-sex couples who challenged the constitutionality of Vermont’s marriage laws.
Writing for the Court, Justice Amestoy declared, The extension of the Common Benefits Clause to acknowledge …
Hawaii Supreme Court Ends Long-Standing Marriage Case
(Boston, MAssachusetts) The Hawaii Supreme Court has dismissed as moot the case in which three same-sex couples had sought marriage licenses from the State. Its decision was based on a November, 1998, referendum in which Hawaii voters approved a ballot measure authorizing the state Legislature to …
Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Against State Police In Case
(Boston, Massachusetts) Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Wendie Gershengorn today issued an order enjoining the Massachusetts State Police and a state trooper “from requiring [a gay man identified in court papers as John Doe] to leave public rest areas along Route 6 so long as Doe is complying …
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) issues Reasonable Cause
In a ruling of first impression, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) has issued a Reasonable Cause Finding in favor of five couples who challenged West Hartford’s policy denying unmarried couples the preferential “family” membership rate at the Town’s pool facility, …
MGH School Recognizes Gay/Straight Alliance
Manchester High School West issued a letter formally recognizing the West High
Gay/Straight Alliance (“GSA”) retroactive to April 1, 1999 when the group first sought recognition and
providing assurances that the club ‘‘will be afforded the exact same treatment” as all other clubs at the
high …
SJC Rules Boston May Not Provide Domestic Partnership Benefits
(Boston, MA) The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) today struck down the Executive Order issued by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino in August, 1998, granting health insurance benefits to registered domestic partners of city employees. The SJC’s ruling follows a challenge to the Executive …
GLAD Files Suit on Behalf of Manchester, New Hampshire Students
(Manchester, NH) Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (“GLAD”) filed suit in federal District Court against Manchester School District on behalf of several Manchester High School West students who tried to start a Gay Straight Alliance (“GSA”) at their school but were denied the opportunity to do so …
GLAD Files Suit on Behalf of Manchester, New Hampshire Student
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (“GLAD”) filed suit in federal District
Court against Manchester School District on behalf of several Manchester High School
West students who tried to start a Gay Straight Alliance (“GSA”) at their school but were
denied the opportunity to do so by their …
Massachusetts SJC Affirms Visitation for Non-Bio Lesbian Mom
(Boston, Massachusetts) In a 4-2 decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) today ruled that a woman, identified as E.O., is a parent of the son she and her former partner jointly raised.
L.M., the biological mother, had urged the Court to sever all contact between the child and E.O. …