Tag Archives: NCLR

The National Center for Lesbian Rights today filed a motion which opposes Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s petition that SCOTUS hear an appeal of his state’s same-sex marriage ruling. Equality Case Files has the motion: The Court has already granted four petitions for writs of certiorari to decide the questions presented in this case. There is no cause to add yet …

The first couple to win a same-sex marriage suit without a lawyer will not have that problem for their appeal. Just in from the NCLR: Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) asked a federal appeals court to permit same-sex couples in Alabama to begin obtaining marriage licenses when an existing federal court stay expires on February 9. NCLR …

Freedom To Marry “The Supreme Court’s decision today begins what we hope will be the last chapter in our campaign to win marriage nationwide – and it’s time,” said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry. “Freedom to Marry’s national strategy has been to build a critical mass of marriage states and critical mass of support for ending marriage discrimination, …

The National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality Florida today issued a joint letter in which they urge Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to instruct state agencies regarding the rights of married same-sex couples. Dear Attorney General Bondi: As counsel for the Plaintiffs in Pareto v. Ruvin, we write to request that your office immediately advise all state agencies in …

“This is a pivotal moment not just for Miami but for the entire country. Florida is a bellwether state, and I can think of no more encouraging sign as the US Supreme Court prepares to decide whether to resolve this issue for the entire country at its next conference on January 9, and as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals …

Equality Florida and the National Center for Lesbian Rights today issued a joint memo to all 67 Florida county clerks. From the concluding paragraph: Florida county court clerks should follow Judge Hinkle’s ruling and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples beginning January 6, 2015. The advice provided to the Clerks Association in legal memoranda from a private law firm is …

“Any Florida clerk who refuses to follow the Constitution’s command and who withholds marriage licenses from couples once the stay expires is on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the law.  A discredited memo from a law firm won’t provide much protection against the risk of being sued for unconstitutional actions and being held liable for …

Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights: Today, the District of Columbia Council unanimously approved a bill that will protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. When signed into law, Washington, D.C. will become the third jurisdiction—behind California and New Jersey—to pass legislation protecting LGBT youth from practices …

Via press release from Lambda Legal: While we praise President Obama’s efforts to do what is in his executive power to improve immigration, we are deeply disappointed that his plan unfairly excludes many members of the LGBT community. President Obama’s plan allows immigrants who have children who are citizens or lawful permanent residents to obtain legal work documents and temporarily …

Earlier today Lambda Legal and ACLU filed a demand that SCOTUS hear their appeal of the Sixth Circuit Court ruling in Ohio. This afternoon the National Center for Lesbian Rights and a coalition of local legal firms did the same regarding the Tennessee case. From their petition: Beyond the many legal protections denied to petitioners, Tennessee’s refusal to recognize their …

Via the Casper Star-Tribune: U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl plans to issue an order by Monday in a case that could legalize same-sex marriage in Wyoming. Skavdahl heard arguments from attorneys representing gay marriage advocates and the state during a Thursday morning hearing in Casper. He also listened to testimony from Laramie County Clerk Debra Lathrop, who is one of …

Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights: On October 16th, U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl of the District of Wyoming will hold a hearing in a federal court challenge to the State of Wyoming’s refusal to permit same-sex couples to marry and to respect the legal marriages of same-sex couples who married in other states. …

Via press release: Today, four same-sex couples and Wyoming Equality filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the State of Wyoming’s refusal to permit same-sex couples to marry and to respect the legal marriages of same-sex couples who married in other states. The couples will ask the court for an immediate order directing state officials to comply with a decision …

Can you STAND IT? Read the ruling. UPDATE: Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Today’s decision, written by Judge Stephen Reinhardt, holds that “Idaho and Nevada’s marriage laws, by preventing same-sex couples from marrying and refusing to recognize same-sex marriages celebrated elsewhere, impose profound legal, financial, social and psychic harms on numerous citizens of those states.” …

The New York Times reports on the “dueling” going on to be the legal team to argue for same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court. In a half-dozen briefs filed in recent weeks, some of the best lawyers in the nation spent many pages arguing that their case was the right one in which to establish a nationwide right to same-sex …

Via the Wall Street Journal: Mark your calendars: the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider its next steps on gay marriage when the justices meet for the first time since their summer break. The court on Wednesday listed gay marriage petitions from five states – Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin – for consideration at its Sept. 29 private conference. …

Two days ago Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals disregarded the instructions of Attorney General Pam Bondi and kicked the marriage equality case before them upstairs to the state Supreme Court. Yesterday the Third District Court of Appeals also rejected Bondi’s demand. A state appeals court has rejected Attorney General Pam Bondi’s request to hold off deciding the constitutionality of …

Via press release from NCLR: On September 8th the Court will hear oral arguments beginning at 1 p.m. Pacific at the James R Browning US Courthouse, 95 7th Street, San Francisco, to laws banning marriage equality in Idaho, Nevada, and Hawaii. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Boise, Idaho attorneys Deborah A. Ferguson and Craig Durham of Ferguson …

The National Center for Lesbian Rights today posted a public letter from nine former leaders of the “ex-gay” movement in which they denounce so-called conversion therapy. At one time, we were not only deeply involved in these “ex-gay” programs, we were the founders, the leaders, and the promoters. Together we represent more than half a century of experience, so few …

Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights: Today, a state trial court in Miami issued a decision striking down Florida’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples and ordering Miami-Dade County to allow same-sex couples to marry. The court stayed the order pending appeal. The case was brought by Equality Florida Institute and Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello, …