Cases: Anti-LGBT Discrimination
While New England has been a leader in the journey toward LGBT civil rights, having the laws is only half the battle. No legislation ever made discrimination disappear. GLAD's precedent-setting litigation is where the legal rubber meets the road—changing laws, changing attitudes, and changing lives.
Patino v. Birken Manufacturing Co.
GLAD and the Connecticut Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) applaud a May 4, 2012 ruling from the Connecticut Supreme Court that employers can be liable if they fail to protect employees from harassment based on sexual… Read More →
D’Amico v. Cranston School Department
In a victory for GLAD, the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission found probable cause to believe that sexual orientation discrimination had occurred when a Rhode Island teacher was denied family leave benefits to care for… Read More →
Pentlarge and Another v. Sex Offender Registry Board et. al.
GLAD has filed an amicus brief in this case on appeal before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court concerning the Commonwealth’s Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) and the process by which it classifies offenders with respect… Read More →
Bedford and Breen v. New Hampshire Technical College System
The state of New Hampshire dropped its appeal in this case on May 7, 2007, providing a definitive victory for GLAD and the plaintiffs. The New Hampshire Superior Court ruled on May 3, 2006, that… Read More →
Pulsifer v. Portland
GLAD represented the City of Portland, Maine against an attack on the city’s domestic partnership registry by ten-taxpayers, along with two anti-gay organizations, the Center for Marriage Law and the Alliance Defense Fund Law Center,… Read More →
In re Nancy Walsh
GLAD applied for and won compensation from the federal September 11 Victim Compensation Fund on behalf of Nancy Walsh, a lesbian whose partner of 13 years was one of the passengers on Flight 11 who… Read More →
Blanchflower v. Blanchflower and Mayer
GLAD filed an amicus curiae brief in a divorce case addressing the question of whether the New Hampshire adultery provision as a fault-based ground for divorce includes same-sex extra-marital relationships. GLAD’ s brief argued that… Read More →
Brindamour, et al. v. Manchester Board of Education
GLAD used the Connecticut anti-discrimination provisions based on sexual orientation and marital status to help a group of teachers and school administrators in Manchester, CT to obtain insurance benefits for their domestic partners. These educators… Read More →
Rose v. YMCA of Nashua
GLAD intervened on behalf of a lesbian couple and their family in New Hampshire who were denied a family membership rate at the YMCA in Nashua, winning an agreement from the YMCA to revisit their… Read More →
T.T. v. J.R.
In the first case to test the sexual orientation protections in the New Hampshire public accommodations anti-discrimination laws, GLAD successfully resolved a claim by a patient who was denied treatment by her dentist because she… Read More →
Boy Scouts of America v. Wyman
GLAD worked to stop the special access of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to the Connecticut state employees’ charitable campaign in light of their discrimination based on sexual orientation. Our participation in this matter… Read More →
Brett, et al., v. Town of West Hartford
GLAD successfully challenged the discriminatory policy of the Town of West Hartford municipal pool, which sought to exclude same-sex couples and their children from a discounted family membership rate. In November 2002, the West Hartford… Read More →
Proposed “Protection of Marriage” Constitutional Amendment
Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Opinion
In a last ditch attempt to revive the measure before it was to die on December 31, 2002 at midnight, Edward Pawlick, the founder of MCM and the primary…
Read More →
GLAD et al. v. Attorney General Thomas Reilly et al
GLAD won a declaration from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that neither of the state’s sodomy laws applies to private, adult, consensual conduct. GLAD filed suit on behalf of itself and several individual gay and… Read More →
Muzzy v. Cahillane Motors, Inc.
GLAD was instrumental in winning a decision from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that personal information about a plaintiff, such as sexual orientation, may not be introduced in court for the purpose of perpetuating negative… Read More →
Ayer v. Sommi & Keller
GLAD was instrumental in obtaining a favorable ruling from the Massachusetts Appeals Court that domestic violence laws protect gay, lesbian, and bisexual people as well as heterosexuals. The first same-sex domestic violence case to reach… Read More →
In re R. C.
GLAD ensured that an incarcerated gay man who was violently attacked and raped by another inmate was able to press charges, despite attempts to obstruct justice by homophobic prison officials. Prison officials initially dismissed R.C.’s… Read More →
Doe v. Kelley (State Police)
As a result of the settlement of a GLAD case against the Massachusetts State Police, a General Order was issued that “officers should not order someone to leave a public area in the absence of… Read More →
Connors v. City of Boston
In a disappointing decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down an Executive Order issued by Boston Mayor, Thomas Menino, granting health insurance benefits to registered domestic partners of city employees, thus constraining the City… Read More →
Crandall v. Boston Concession Group
GLAD won a ruling that Massachusetts non-discrimination law applies equally to every employee of Massachusetts companies, even if the employee works out-of-state. GLAD represented two women from Maine who worked in Maine and were essentially… Read More →
M.G. v. Providence School Department
Representing a Providence student arrested and expelled from school after false accusations by tormenting peers, GLAD won an agreement completely vindicating the student.
Read More →Carr v. New England Medical Center
GLAD won a favorable settlement on behalf of a gay man denied sperm banking and transport services simply because he is gay and assumed to be at “high risk” for HIV.
Read More →West High GSA v. Manchester School District
Faced with a lawsuit by GLAD and its NH co-counsel, the Manchester School District directed West High’s principal to recognize a student initiated Gay/Straight Alliance. The students had sought recognition from the school for a… Read More →
Gagne v. Holyoke Health Center and Dr. George Abraham
GLAD won a favorable settlement on behalf of Erica Gagne, who was denied treatment by Dr. Abraham of the Holyoke Health Center after she identified herself as a lesbian. Ms. Gagne, who went to the… Read More →
Aaron Fricke v. Richard B. Lynch
GLAD’s 1980 case, Aaron Fricke v. Richard B. Lynch, is a milestone in protecting the rights of LGBT students. GLAD founder John Ward and co-counsel argued that, in not allowing him to bring a male… Read More →