Tag Archives: Lambda Legal

Lambda Legal: Why We’re Suing Houston

Late last month Lambda Legal filed suit against the city of Houston and Mayor Annise Parker in order to force the reinstatement of the same-sex partner benefits ordered by Parker.  Some folks are apparently confused by that action so yesterday Lambda posted an explanation. Some have asked why we would sue the Mayor and the City, when they have taken …

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HOUSTON: Lambda Legal Sues City Over Same-Sex Spousal Benefits

In late November, openly gay Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced that city employees who are legally married in other states were now eligible for spousal benefits. Three weeks later a judge suspended Parker’s edict pending the outcome of a lawsuit brought by local Christian leaders. Yesterday Lambda Legal sued the city in order to reinstate the benefits ordered by Parker. …

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VIRGINIA: Federal Court Denies Motion To Dismiss Marriage Equality Lawsuit

And the hits just keep coming! Via a joint press release from Lambda Legal and the ACLU: A federal court denied a motion from the Staunton Circuit Court Clerk today seeking dismissal of a lawsuit challenging Virginia’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples. The lawsuit, filed earlier this year on behalf of two couples by the American Civil Liberties Union, …

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WEST VIRGINIA: State AG Asks Court To Throw Out Marriage Lawsuit

Claiming that the plaintiffs lack standing, the West Virginia state attorney general’s office has asked the court to dismiss a marriage equality lawsuit. In its motion, the state claims two reasons why the lawsuit filed by three same-sex couples should be dismissed: state law doesn’t cause them any immediate harm and the couples aren’t married, so the fact West Virginia …

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Think Tank Report: Major LGBT Rights Groups Had $186M In 2012 Revenues

The Movement Advancement Project has issued its annual report on the finances of 32 major LGBT rights groups in the United States. Included in their 2012 recap is data from the Human Rights Campaign, the ACLU LGBT Project, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, Freedom To Marry, and several state organizations such as Equality California. Hit the link for the full 24-page report.

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Gay Man Wills $3M To Lambda Legal

Lambda Legal yesterday revealed that a San Diego gay man who died last year bequeathed them almost $3M. Robert “Bob” Rushing of San Diego died in 2012. He was the longtime partner of John Eden, who died in 2005 after heart surgery. The couple were among Lambda Legal’s first members of the Guardian Society, a group of individuals who have …

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ILLINOIS: Thomas More Society Concedes Marriage Lawsuits Are Now Moot

Via press release: This morning attorneys with the Thomas More Society secured an agreed Order, entered by Judge Sophia Hall, staying all further proceedings in the lawsuit filed by the Illinois ACLU and Lambda Legal, who filed suit over a year ago, challenging Illinois’ marriage laws as unconstitutional in violation of various provisions of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. Given …

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A New Jersey Love Story

Celebration from Lambda Legal.

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NJ Victory Lap From Lambda Legal

Just in via press release: “The long wait in New Jersey is finally over – the door is open for love, commitment and equality under the law! This is a huge victory for New Jersey’s same-sex couples and their families.” said Hayley Gorenberg, Deputy Legal Director of Lambda Legal and the organization’s lead attorney on the case. “Beginning October 21st, …

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NEVADA: Lambda Legal Takes Marriage Equality Appeal To Ninth Circuit Court

Via press release: Today Lambda Legal filed its opening brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case on behalf of eight same-sex couples challenging the amendment to Nevada’s constitution and other state laws banning marriage for same-sex couples. “The world has changed dramatically since we filed this lawsuit over a year ago,” said Tara Borelli, Staff Attorney …

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NEW JERSEY: State Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Lambda Legal’s Marriage Case

Breaking news from the Associated Press: The state’s highest court on Friday agreed to hear a case on whether gay marriage should be legal and whether same-sex weddings can be performed while it decides. A lower-court judge ruled last month that the state must legalize same-sex marriage starting Oct. 21, but Gov. Chris Christie’s administration said in a court filing …

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BREAKING: New Jersey Court Denies Christie’s Appeal To Stay Marriage Ruling

Breaking from the Associated Press: A New Jersey judge has denied a request from Gov. Chris Christie’s administration to delay the start of gay marriage in the state until after a legal appeal is final. The ruling Thursday from Judge Mary Jacobson moves the state a step closer to start recognizing same-sex nuptials on Oct. 21. That’s the day Jacobson …

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IOWA: Appeals Court Upholds Conviction Of Man Who Didn’t Disclose HIV+ Status

The Iowa Court of Appeals today upheld the conviction of Nick Rhoades, a gay man who did not disclose his HIV+ status to a sex partner he met online in 2008. His partner, who did not become infected, called police after learning of the man’s HIV status even though condoms were used during their encounter. At his trial, Rhoades pleaded …

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Lambda Legal To Fight Christie’s Appeal

Just in via press release: Today after New Jersey Attorney General Hoffman announced his plans to file papers seeking to stay last Friday’s ruling by a New Jersey Superior Court allowing same-sex couples to marry, Lambda Legal issued the following statement from Deputy Legal Director Hayley Gorenberg: “We’ll fight the State’s efforts to stay this decision. We’re going to do …

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WEST VIRGINIA: Lambda Legal Files Suit To Overturn Marriage Ban

This morning Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit I reported about yesterday. Via press release: Today Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on behalf of three same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry, and the child of one of the couples. The case was filed on behalf of Casie …

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WEST VIRGINIA: Lambda Legal To File Suit To Overturn Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Tomorrow Lambda Legal will file a lawsuit that seeks to overturn West Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage. Via the Charleston Gazette: A spokesman for Lambda Legal wouldn’t release details of the West Virginia lawsuit on Monday. According to the group’s website, it has been working with Fairness West Virginia, a gay rights group, “to find a way for all same-sex …

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VIRGINIA: Lambda Legal & ALCU Ask For Swift Ruling In Marriage Equality Case

Today the ACLU and Lambda Legal asked for a summary judgment in their Virginia marriage equality case. Their suit is separate from the Virginia case joined today by AFER. Via press release: “The papers we filed today ask the court to get to the heart of the matter,” Greg Nevins, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office …

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Tweet Of The Day – Evan Wolfson

Courts, legislature, & public (super-majority) in #NewJersey all support the @freedomtomarry. Time for @ChrisChristie to stop blocking it.— Evan Wolfson (@evanwolfson) September 27, 2013

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New Jersey Ruling Reactions

ACLU-New Jersey This is a great day for all of New Jersey. The court has recognized the love and commitment that same-sex couples share is no different from anyone else’s,” said Udi Ofer, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey. “The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Windsor to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act made it clear that …

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NEW JERSEY: Superior Court Judge Rules That Same-Sex Marriages Are Legal

In a ruling that Gov. Chris Christie has vowed to appeal, a New Jersey Superior Court judge ruled this afternoon that the state must allow same-sex couples to marry. Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson sided almost entirely with a group of same-sex couples and gay rights groups who sued the state in July, days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck …

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