Civil Rights Project
Since 1978, GLAD’s bold and effective advocacy has achieved scores of precedent-setting legal victories to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression, benefiting individuals, couples, and families across New England and through the United States.
We fight because we care, and we win because we’re good. Each time GLAD argues a case or tackles an issue, we tear down more of the outdated laws and stereotypes that have denied LGBT people basic protections and opportunities in every area of daily life – family, school, employment, housing, government, health care, and beyond.
Whether it’s marriage for same-sex couples or non-discrimination policies in the workplace, GLAD doesn’t shrink from tough issues. And we don’t compromise on our belief that every LGBT citizen deserves full equality under the law – without exception.
Latest Civil Rights Project NewsMore→
Rhode Island is Milestone for Marriage Equality
Today, Governor Lincoln Chafee signed into law a bill to allow same-sex couples to marry in Rhode Island. The Ocean State is now the nation’s 10th … Read More →
GLAD Celebrates Imminent Marriage Equality in Rhode Island
Ocean State poised to become 10th marriage equality state, final New England state
Today, the Rhode Island Senate teed up history with a … Read More →
Project Director
Mary L. Bonauto, Esq.
Mary L. Bonauto has been the Civil Rights Project Director at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) since 1990. Her practice concentrates on impact litigation for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, as well as people living with HIV or AIDS. She has litigated widely in the state and federal courts and agencies of the six New England states since 1990 on issues of employment discrimination, custody, free speech and civil rights. In 1999, she and two Vermont co-counsel won a ruling that same-sex couples are entitled to … Read More →Related Cases
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 … Read More →
Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management et al.
For complete details about this case and the plaintiffs, visit http://www.glad.org/doma/
August 2, 2012 – GLAD filed a brief in response to the … Read More →
Kadri v. Mukasey
GLAD joined an amicus brief in this immigration/asylum case at the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The case involves an Indonesian doctor, … 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 … Read More →
Miller-Jenkins v. Miller-Jenkins
Update: On April 22, an arrest was made in the custody case involving former civil union partners Janet Jenkins and Lisa Miller, and their daughter, … Read More →
A.E.H. v. M.R.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously September 28, 2012 that Massachusetts must recognize other states’ parallel spousal … Read More →
Todd Elia-Warnken v. Richard Elia
July 26, 2012 - Victory! The MA Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor our our client, Richard Elia, stating that “a Vermont civil union must be … Read More →
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 … Read More →
Parents of Student K.1 / SAU #53 – Epsom School District
In a victory upholding the efficacy and enforceability of New Hampshire’s anti-bullying statute, GLAD represented an Epsom, New Hampshire student … Read More →
Raftopol v. Ramey
In a first-of-its kind decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled on Jan. 5, 2011 that a gay male couple who wanted to have children and used a … Read More →
Kerrigan & Mock v. Connecticut Dept. of Public Health
On Friday, October 10, 2008, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to full marriage equality.
On August 25, … Read More →
Parker v. Hurley
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on January 31, 2008 unanimously affirmed District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf’s dismissal of a lawsuit … Read More →
Adoption of M.A. and R.A.
The Maine Law Court issued a unanimous decision on August 30, 2007 lifting the bar on unmarried couples adopting children.
As a result of the ruling, … 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 … Read More →
Schulman v. Reilly
GLAD filed this lawsuit to challenge the Attorney General’s decision that a proposed ballot question that would once again exclude same-sex couples … Read More →
Cote-Whitacre et al. v. Dept. Public Health
On March 30, 2006, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court determined in the absence of a home state’s “express prohibition” against marriage by … Read More →
C. J. Doyle v. Goodridge
One of a barrage of actions filed early in 2004 to prevent the implementation of Goodridge on May 17, 2004, this action sought a further stay of … Read More →
Netherland et al. v. Whiteman et al.
GLAD is putting the right-wing on notice that they cannot use intimidation tactics to try to stop vitally important sex education information from … 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 … Read More →
T.F. v. B.L.
GLAD represented T.F., a biological mother seeking child support from her former partner, B.F. The two had decided together to have a child, with … Read More →
C.E.W. v. D.E.W.
GLAD, along with Maine co-counsel, won the right to seek full parental rights and responsibilities for a non-biological lesbian mother in Maine whose … 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 … 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 … Read More →
Goodridge et al. v. Dept. Public Health
In a historic opinion on November 18, 2003, GLAD won a ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that gay and lesbian couples can no … 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 … Read More →
Guardianship of I.H.
GLAD represented a committed lesbian couple from Kennebec County who jointly decided to have children together. They took all legal steps available … 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, … 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 … Read More →
Albano v. Reilly et al
In Albano et al v. Reilly et al, GLAD challenged the propriety of the Attorney General’s certification of the ballot initiative. GLAD’s claim was … 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 … Read More →
Burns v. Burns
GLAD submitted an amicus brief in this Georgia case, the first addressing whether a Vermont civil union has the force of marriage in another … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read More →
Rubano v. DiCenzo
The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a lesbian co-parent could bring a claim in Family Court to resolve issues of visitation rights with the … Read More →
In re Baby Z & An Act Concerning The Best Interest Of Children In Adoption Matters
GLAD helped win second-parent adoption in Connecticut, through work in the courts and assistance to activists drafting legislation. In April 1998, … Read More →
In the Matter of Jane Doe
In response to an assault against a lesbian student by a number of her peers at a Western Massachusetts high school, GLAD secured the school’s … Read More →
Jason H. v. Boston Public Schools
Representing a Boston student subjected to peer harassment, GLAD negotiated a settlement that includes system-wide training and information regarding … Read More →
Baker et al. v. State of Vermont
GLAD won a ruling from the Vermont Supreme Court that recognized the right for same-sex couples to have their relationships afforded the same legal … 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 … 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 … Read More →
In re D.G.
Where a southern Maine school sought to “solve” the two-year harassment of a student by graduating him a year early, GLAD successfully turned the … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read More →
E.N.O. v. L.M.M.
In a landmark decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a non-biological lesbian mother, who helped raise her son from his birth, … 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 … Read More →
In re South Kingstown High School
GLAD intervened successfully on behalf of a high school gay/straight alliance that had been denied the equivalent privileges of other student … 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 … Read More →