By Lisa Keen on March 29, 2011
U.S. immigration officials confirmed that the green card applications of immigrants who are in marriages with same-sex partners who are American citizens will be “held in abeyance” until the Department of Justice provides “final guidance related to distinct legal issues” involved in such cases.
Posted in Federal Courts, Immigration, Issues, Law, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Dana Rudolph on March 23, 2011
The Arkansas Supreme Court heard arguments March 17 in a case to determine whether the state constitution will allow a law banning any person cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of marriage from adopting or foster a child. It is a case some legal observers expect could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted in Adoption, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, News, State Courts, State Supreme Courts
By Lisa Keen on March 22, 2011
It looked like a cake-walk: President Obama nominated openly gay attorney Paul Oetken to a federal district court bench in Manhattan two months ago, and just last week, he had a confirmation hearing.
Posted in Congress, Issues, National Politics, News, Nominees, Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 17, 2011
Efforts to secure equal benefits for a gay federal court employee in San Francisco suffered a setback Wednesday when a federal judge dismissed the employee’s lawsuit. But Lambda Legal Defense says the dismissal has a silver lining.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, Lawsuits, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Dana Rudolph on March 17, 2011
The Delaware Supreme Court issued a ruling upholding the right of a woman to be identified as a “de facto” parent of a child she had been raising with her former same-sex partner—a child the partner adopted but that the woman herself did not.
Posted in Adoption, Issues, Law, News, State Courts, State Supreme Courts
By Lisa Keen on March 16, 2011
When U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in 2009, he conceded there was little chance for passage in the 111th Congress. Clearly, something’s changed.
Posted in Congress, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on March 15, 2011
Supporters of allowing same-sex couples to marry in Maryland could see the altar: passing the House and sending the bill to a governor who said he would sign it. But on March 11, the House unanimously voted to send it back to committee.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on March 11, 2011
The White House held a high-visibility conference on bullying prevention March 10, with the President and First Lady calling on parents, teachers, students, and communities to address the problem together.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics, White House
By Dana Rudolph on March 9, 2011
Members of Congress are introducing a flurry of bills this week designed to address bullying and harassment of students, including LGBT students, and timed to coincide with a major White House conference on bullying prevention March 10.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on March 8, 2011
Proponents of marriage equality are holding their own this week in two battleground states, despite tough skirmishes that threatened ground they had previously gained. But in both states–Maryland and New Hampshire–more critical battles seem almost inevitable, perhaps on the ballot in 2012.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 7, 2011
Republican members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee have been holding up the nomination of President Obama’s only openly gay nominee to a federal appeals bench.
Posted in Congress, Issues, National Politics, News, Nominees, Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 2, 2011
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an anti-gay protester’s demonstrations in close proximity to a private funeral service are protected by the First Amendment.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, U.S. Supreme Court
By Dana Rudolph on March 1, 2011
Marriage equality in Maryland looks set to take one of two paths–and neither is likely to enable same-sex couples to marry in the Free State for many months to come.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on February 23, 2011
The Obama administration made a blockbuster announcement Wednesday, saying it has concluded that one part of the Defense of Marriage Act will not be able to pass constitutional muster in the 2nd Circuit and that DOJ would not defend that part of the law in two pending cases in that circuit.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on February 23, 2011
Ted Olson, lead attorney for the lawsuit challenging California’s same-sex marriage ban, announced Wednesday that he is asking the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to lift a stay on a district court ruling that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Dana Rudolph on February 23, 2011
Marriage equality and legal recognition for same-sex relationships took a few big steps forward this past week—in Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. But they took a few steps backward, too—in Indiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on February 21, 2011
The Dept. of Health and Human Services said it “strongly supports” regulations which protect the rights of health care providers from being “compelled to perform or assist in an abortion.” But what it did not say was of greater interest to the LGBT community.
Posted in Federal Courts, Health, Issues, Law, News, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on February 16, 2011
The road to marriage equality in California just got a little longer. The California Supreme Court said today it would make ruling on whether Yes on 8 proponents have authority, under California law, to appeal a federal court ruling that the initiative is unconstitutional.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Marriage/Relationships, News, State Courts, State Supreme Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Dana Rudolph on February 12, 2011
Same-sex couples with adopted children living in states with anti-gay adoption laws and attitudes had more mental health issues in their first year of parenthood than couples with adopted children living in more accepting states, a new study has found.
Posted in Adoption, Issues, Law, News, State Courts
Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?
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
Rhode Island marriage bill clears final hurdle with all Republicans