By Chuck Colbert on April 1, 2012
When a panel of three judges on a federal appeals court hears arguments against the federal Defense of Marriage Act, three openly gay lawyers will argue the law is unconstitutional. Opposing them, one straight attorney.
Posted in Federal Courts, Marriage/Relationships
By Lisa Keen on March 27, 2012
One of the biggest lawsuits against the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is back in court next week, and for the first time for any DOMA challenge, it is at the federal appeals level.
Posted in Federal Courts, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships
By Lisa Keen on March 14, 2012
In a first of its kind case, a federal judge in Philadelphia Monday (March 12) heard arguments on whether the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) precludes a private company from recognizing a same-sex marriage when it comes to the distribution of an employee’s survivor benefits.
Posted in Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, U.S. District Courts
By Lisa Keen on February 22, 2012
A federal district court judge in San Francisco ruled Tuesday (February 22) that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the rights of gays and lesbians to equal protection of the law.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, U.S. District Courts
By Lisa Keen on February 7, 2012
Calling Proposition 8 “remarkably similar” to Colorado’s anti-gay Amendment 2 in 1992, a divided federal appeals court panel in San Francisco ruled Tuesday (February 7) that California’s same-sex marriage ban violates the federal constitution.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Dana Rudolph on February 3, 2012
A first-ever study of how teens and young adults with LGB parents feel about marriage equality was published this month in the peer-reviewed Journal of Marriage and Family.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships
By Lisa Keen on February 2, 2012
Most gay legal activists issued a subtle yawn in reaction to the 22-page decision Thursday by a federal appeals panel to keep the Proposition 8 trial videotapes under seal.
Posted in Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships
By Chuck Colbert on January 20, 2012
A group of nearly 40 conservative religious leaders released an open letter this month (January 12) that seeks to reframe the battle over same-sex civil marriage as a threat to their freedom of religion.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships
By Lisa Keen on January 12, 2012
The Canadian Department of Justice told a court in Ontario this week that a lesbian couple from the U.S. and England who obtained a marriage license there in 2005 should not be granted a divorce now because they were not legally married in Canada.
Posted in Law, Marriage/Relationships
By Dana Rudolph on December 29, 2011
One leading advocate called 2011 an “epic” year for marriage equality. Was it? While only one state — New York — enacted full marriage rights for same-sex couples, it was the most populous state to do so. Five other states also moved closer to marriage equality than ever before.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships
By Dana Rudolph on December 15, 2011
Karen Golinski never meant to become one of the headline names in the fight to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). All she wanted to do was to secure health care coverage for her legal spouse.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, U.S. District Courts
By Lisa Keen on November 17, 2011
In what amounts to a bump in the road for opponents of Proposition 8, a unanimous California Supreme Court told a federal appeals court November 17 that California law “authorizes” the proponents of the initiative to defend it in federal court even though state elected officials decided not to.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, State Supreme Courts
By Dana Rudolph on November 16, 2011
LGBT activists in the neighboring states of Oregon and Washington have reached two different conclusions in the past week about strategies for marriage equality. Those in Washington State will attempt to gain it in 2012, but those in Oregon will use 2012 to continue to build support.
Posted in Ballot Measures, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Dana Rudolph on November 3, 2011
New polls on marriage equality in seven states show mostly positive results for marriage equality advocates–but polls in two of the states indicate that the way the questions are asked can significantly affect the results.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on October 27, 2011
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund filed suit in a federal district court Thursday (October 27) challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act and its use in denying to gay service members spousal benefits equal to that given to their straight counterparts.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, U.S. District Courts
By Lisa Keen on October 26, 2011
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will debate and vote on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on Wednesday, November 3. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced the scheduling Tuesday, October 25.
Posted in Congress, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics
By Dana Rudolph on September 29, 2011
Americans are becoming “dramatically” more accepting of gay men and lesbians, according to a new report from a respected, long-running social survey. And, as suggested by other recent surveys, this latest report indicates younger generations are driving that trend.
Posted in Demographics, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on September 19, 2011
On the same day a Broadway play is to premiere to highlight the transcripts from the landmark Proposition 8 trial, a federal judge has ordered release of videotapes of the trial.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, Marriage/Relationships, News, U.S. District Courts
By Dana Rudolph on September 14, 2011
The North Carolina legislature approved a ballot question this week that seeks to amend the state constitution to ban marriage of same-sex couples.
Posted in Ballot Measures, Marriage/Relationships, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on September 14, 2011
Remember last year’s Pledge to America from the Republican Party? It promised three times to make government “more transparent.”
Well, apparently, that pledge had a hidden expiration date.
Posted in Federal Courts, Marriage/Relationships, U.S. District Courts
Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?
Delaware votes for marriage equality; becomes 11th state to make it the law
Rhode Island marriage law signed; Two more states could vote next week
President praises pro athlete Jason Collins for courage to come out
Rhode Island marriage bill clears final hurdle with all Republicans