By Lisa Keen on October 20, 2010
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Wednesday night stopped the enforcement of a federal district court judge’s order that the military stop enforcing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Dana Rudolph on October 13, 2010
Neither the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) nor Governor Charlie Crist will appeal a September 22 ruling that overturned the state ban on adoption by gay men or lesbians. But will state Attorney General Bill McCollum appeal on his own?
Posted in Law, Lawsuits, News, State Courts
By Lisa Keen on October 12, 2010
A federal judge in California Tuesday issued an order to put an “immediate” and global halt to all discharges and investigations under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, News
By Lisa Keen on October 7, 2010
Fred Phelps’ followers say their hate-filled messages constitute a contribution to public discourse. But, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, attorney Sean Summers argued that these messages, when conveyed outside the funeral of a fallen soldier, inflict an injury for which the group should be made liable.
Posted in Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 6, 2010
Claiming that the Department of Justice is not doing enough to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has asked a federal court for permission to serve as an intervenor-defendant in two cases expected to come before the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News
By Lisa Keen on October 4, 2010
There are some important First Amendment cases coming before the U.S. Supreme Court in the session that begins today. The most important case for the LGBT community at the moment is Snyder v. Phelps, which the court will hear on Wednesday, October 6.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on September 24, 2010
For the second time this month, a federal judge has ruled Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell violates the federal constitution.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, News
By Dana Rudolph on September 23, 2010
Florida Governor Charlie Crist (I) and George Sheldon, head of the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), said they would no longer enforce the state ban on adoption by gay men and lesbians.
Posted in Adoption, Law, Lawsuits, News, State Courts
By Dana Rudolph on September 22, 2010
A Florida appeals court ruled September 22 that a gay man, Frank Martin Gill, has the right to adopt the two boys he and his partner have raised for almost six years. The decision upholds a lower court ruling that found the state law banning gay men and lesbians from adopting is unconstitutional.
Posted in Adoption, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, News, State Courts
By Lisa Keen on September 14, 2010
At first glance, it might draw a yawn: Elena Kagan, the U.S. Supreme Court’s newest member, has recused herself from some upcoming cases. But ruminate for a few minutes over this list of cases that could be before the court within a few years.
Posted in A closer look, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, Law, Marriage/Relationships, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on September 14, 2010
The story of Air Force Reserve Major Margaret Witt has some drama to it and that drama may well be trotted out this week as a U.S. District Court judge hears the lawsuit challenging her discharge under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, News
By Lisa Keen on September 10, 2010
A U.S. District Court judge in California Thursday declared the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy unconstitutional, saying it violates both the First and Fifth Amendments.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News
By Lisa Keen on September 8, 2010
The California Supreme Court Wednesday night denied a petition from a conservative group seeking to force California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to participate in an appeal of the Proposition 8 case.
Posted in Lawsuits, News, State Courts, State Supreme Courts
By Lisa Keen on September 7, 2010
Supporters of Proposition 8 this month conjured up the ghost of Ronald Reagan to defend the voter-approved state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. But, so far, it hasn’t worked.
Posted in A closer look, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 16, 2010
A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued an order granting Yes on 8’s request for a stay of Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 12, 2010
There were cheers outside San Francisco City Hall as news emerged that Judge Vaughn Walker had denied a request to delay enforcement of his ruling against Proposition 8. But those cheers were mitigated when details of the judge’s order were revealed: Walker continued to delay enforcement of his decision until August 18.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 9, 2010
The waiting game around the Proposition 8 challenge in a federal court in San Francisco grows curiouser and curiouser.
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has issued his decision in the case. Now, people interested in the case are waiting again—this time, for Judge Walker’s decision on whether to approve a permanent “stay” until the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals can weigh in on the merits of the case.
Posted in A closer look, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
In an historic, potent, and eloquent decision, U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Wednesday, August 4, that California’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage violates the federal constitution’s guarantees to equal protection and due process of law.
Posted in A closer look, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Wednesday that California’s ballot measure banning same-sex marriage violates the federal constitution’s guarantees to equal protection and due process of law.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, said he would oppose Elena Kagan’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court because she has “a history of ignoring the law when it conflicts with the gay rights agenda.”
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, Nominees, U.S. Supreme Court
Minnesota: Where the push for a marriage license began
Immigration bill advances without provisions for same-sex couples
Leahy submits language to help bi-national same-sex couples
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