Tag Archives: ACLU

The Washington Post has the potentially huge news: Pennsylvania attorney general Kathleen Kane will not defend the state in a federal lawsuit filed this week challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, lawyers involved in the case said. The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Tuesday on behalf of 23 Pennsylvania residents, including 10 couples, a widow …

And the hits keep coming! Via press release: Just two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois will file a motion for summary judgment, asking for a swift ruling in favor of the freedom to marry in Illinois. The filing will be immediately followed by …

The ACLU is on a ROLL today! Today the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF) announced plans to challenge North Carolina’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples by amending a federal lawsuit filed against the state last year on behalf of six same-sex couples and their children that challenges North Carolina’s ban …

Via press release: Today Lambda Legal announced that it is in the planning stages of a new federal lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Virginia with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “The end of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act opens a new chapter in our work to ensure same-sex couples and their families across …

The Associated Press reports: The lawsuit, to be filed in federal court in Harrisburg, also will ask a federal judge to prevent state officials from stopping gay couples from getting married. It names Gov. Tom Corbett, Attorney General Kathleen Kane and three other officials. The plaintiffs are one widow, 10 couples and one of the couples’ two teenage daughters, and …

Homocon Jimmy LaSalvia has landed a new gig after leaving GOProud earlier this year. As part of the broad-based effort to involve conservatives in the movement to encourage the freedom to marry, the ACLU has hired conservative strategist Jimmy LaSalvia. LaSalvia is the founder and former executive director of GOProud and will work with the ACLU to do outreach to …

Via press release from the ACLU: A federal judge today ruled that a state law that would have barred many public entities from providing health insurance to the domestic partners of their employees is unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union and Kirkland & Ellis LLP challenged the law on behalf of five gay and lesbian public employees, as well as …

The ACLU yesterday filed suit against the Obama administration, demanding an end to the collection of phone records by the NSA. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York by the American Civil Liberties Union, along with the New York Civil Liberties Union. “The practice is akin to snatching every American’s address book — with annotations detailing whom …

The ACLU is prodding ABC to have the gay characters on Modern Family get married. Having two main characters in a wildly popular show get married would put the issue of marriage equality in living rooms across the country and generate conversations about the importance of allowing same-sex couples to marry – the kinds of conversations that we know change …

Via press release from Florida: Just one day after 14-year-old Bayli Silberstein filed suit against the Lake County School Board to enforce her constitutionally protected right to establish a Gay-Straight Alliance at her school, today the School Board has ended months of delay and efforts to block the GSA, and will allow the club to meet. The consent decree entered …

World Net Daily today used the above image to illustrate their promotion of the latest book by their birther-in-chief Jerome Corsi, who this time is attacking the ACLU. “The ACLU is not only pressing same-sex marriage. They’re now supporting pedophilia in the courts. In California, you’ve got attacks to remove the tax-exempt status of the Boy Scouts because they won’t …

At Seattle’s Stranger, Dominic Holden has an update in the case of the florist who was sued this week by the Washington state Attorney General. After five weeks of biting their tongues, a gay couple in Richland, Washington, is making a loaded offer to a florist who refused to sell them flowers based her biblical belief that “marriage is between …

Yesterday a GOP-sponsored bill to establish Christianity as the official state religion of North Carolina passed its first committee hearing. Technically, the bill is a mere resolution. House Bill 494, a resolution filed by Republican Rowan County Reps. Harry Warren and Carl Ford, would refuse to acknowledge the force of any judicial ruling on prayer in North Carolina – or …

As the same-sex marriage bill winds its way through the Illinois legislature, two lawsuits to overturn the state ban are continuing. Today the anti-gay Thomas More Society lost their bid to squash the cases.  Via press release from Lambda Legal: Today the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division denied a motion to stay the cases brought by Lambda Legal …

The tiny Kentucky mining town of Vicco, population 334, has approved broad anti-discrimination protections for LGBT residents. The ACLU of Kentucky reports: Today the Fairness Coalition joined the Appalachian town of Vicco, Kentucky as they approved the state’s first lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) anti-discrimination Fairness ordinance in a decade. The measure, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations …

Some service members discharged until DADT will finally receive their full separation pay thanks to a class action suit won today by the ACLU.  Windy City Times reports: “There was absolutely no need to subject these service members to a double dose of discrimination by removing them from the armed forces in the first place, and then denying them this …

“President Obama has utterly failed the first test of his second term, even before inauguration day. His signature means indefinite detention without charge or trial, as well as the illegal military commissions, will be extended. He also has jeopardized his ability to close Guantanamo during his presidency. Scores of men who have already been held for nearly 11 years without …

Guidestar, the watchdog site for non-profits, has ranked Lambda Legal as having the best practices among the LGBT rights and progressive organizations it monitors. Lambda Legal reacts via press release: “I am very proud of the amazing talent and leadership of the Lambda Legal staff, board and volunteers that has resulted in this top ranking from our colleagues and peers,” …

As the marriage equality campaign continues to pick up speed in Illinois, a coalition of LGBT rights and progressive groups has formed. Via press release: In the wake of the announcement by key legislators that they will seek passage of an Illinois marriage equality bill in January 2013, a broad range of organizations have joined to form a new coalition, …

Illinois is moving fast towards marriage equality. After counting heads and consulting with legislative leaders, the chief sponsors of a bill to permit same-sex couples to get married in the state this morning disclosed they intend to push for a vote in the General Assembly’s lame-duck session, which will occur over two weeks just after New Year’s. And, in an …