Tag Archives: NCLR

SOUTH DAKOTA: Lawyer Asks For Summary Judgment In Marriage Case

Via KSFY-ABC in Sioux Falls: There’s a development in the lawsuit to overturn South Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage. The Minneapolis-based lawyer, Joshua Newville, does not want the case to go to trial. Instead, he wants the judge to rule the ban is unconstitutional, and legalize same-sex marriage. And he says he has precedence on his side. Newville enlisted the …

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ACLU Retracts ENDA Support

This afternoon the ACLU joined a growing list of civil rights group that have dropped their support for ENDA due to its gaping religious exemptions. Via press release: The provision in the current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that allows religious organizations to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity has long been a source of significant …

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About To Start In Florida…

That’s National Center for Lesbian Rights attorney Shannon Minter seated in the red tie. They’re about to enter the courtroom as Florida’s first marriage equality case opens in Miami. Equality Florida will be live-tweeting the proceedings.

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FLORIDA: Former Gov. Charlie Crist Files Pro-Gay Marriage Amicus Brief

Via Equality Florida: Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has filed an amicus brief today in support of the marriage equality lawsuit Pareto v. Ruvin, which is set for a hearing on July 2 before Judge Sarah Zabel in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Miami. Judge Zabel will hear from attorneys who filed a lawsuit in January on behalf of …

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#BornPerfect: NCLR Launches National Campaign Against “Ex-Gay” Torture

From the National Center for Lesbian Rights: NCLR has launched #BornPerfect: The Campaign to End Conversion Therapy in the next five years by passing laws across the country to protect LGBT kids, fighting in courtrooms to ensure their safety, and raising awareness about the serious harms caused by these dangerous practices. Few practices hurt LGBT youth more than attempts to …

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FLORIDA: Marriage Hearing Set For July

Via Equality Florida: Our Marriage Equality Lawsuit Hearing has been scheduled for July 2nd at 4pm in front of Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel. The suit is on behalf of six South Florida same-sex couples and the Equality Florida Institute challenging that Amendment 2 and other Florida laws banning marriage equality are unconstitutional. The initial lawsuit was filed in January, …

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IDAHO: Ninth Circuit Expedites Marriage Appeal Hearing, Sets September Date

From the National Center For Lesbian Rights: Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered expedited review of a federal district court’s decision that overturned Idaho’s ban on marriage equality. At the same time, the court put the lower court’s decision on hold until the appeal is completed. On May 13, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy …

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IDAHO: NCLR Files Stay Opposition Brief With Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals

The National Center for Lesbian Rights has filed their motion in opposition to the stay demand made yesterday to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (seriously.) View the full ruling at my Scribd account and pull out the best parts. FUN FACT: Marriage defender Gov. Butch Otter’s first wife of 28 years was named Gay. …

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IDAHO: Judge Promises Swift Ruling In Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit

Oral arguments in Idaho’s same-sex marriage lawsuit took place yesterday and the judge promised to issue a ruling soon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale told attorneys for four couples Monday that the emotional case raised lots of questions, and that she would get a ruling out in the “relatively near future.” She declined to give a specific date, and …

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IDAHO: Marriage Case Begins Monday

Idaho’s marriage equality case begins on Monday in federal court. Four Boise-based same-sex couples are challenging Idaho’s constitutional ban after Ada County refused to issue marriage certificates or recognize marriages from other states. Similar bans in other states, including Utah’s, have recently been struck down in district-level federal courts and are under appeal. The Idaho suit was filed in November …

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WYOMING: Marriage Lawsuit Filed

Via press release from the NCLR: On March 5, 2014, four same-sex couples and Wyoming Equality filed a lawsuit in state court in Cheyenne challenging Wyoming’s laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying and refuse to respect the legal marriages of same-sex couples who married in other states. The couples include a university professor, a Major in the Army Reserve, …

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Coalition Of Human Rights Groups: Sochi’s Top Corporate Sponsors Must Speak Out

A coalition of 40 human rights groups have issued a joint letter to the top ten corporate sponsors of the Sochi Olympics which demands that they denounce Russia’s abuses against LGBT people. Via press release: Corporate sponsors of the Sochi Winter Olympics should act now to urge Russia to halt the rising tide of discrimination, harassment and threats against lesbian, …

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FLORIDA: Six Gay Couples File Lawsuit To Overturn Ban On Same-Sex Marriage

Today Florida finally joined the list of states facing down a lawsuit to overturn a ban on same-sex marriage. Via the National Center for Lesbian Rights: The couples are from Miami and the surrounding area. Four of the couples are raising children, and another couple has an adult child and two grandchildren. The couples are: Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello; …

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UTAH: Plaintiffs File Opposition To Request For Ten Day Extension

On Friday, the state of Utah asked the Tenth Circuit Court for ten extra days to figure out why gay marriage is so icky. Yesterday the plaintiffs filed a motion opposing the extension request. From the motion: The State Defendants’ Motion requesting an extension of time to file their opening brief fails even to mention the showing that Tenth Circuit …

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NCLR Joins Utah Marriage Case

Via Equality On Trial: Noted LGBT legal organization National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) will be joining as co-counsel for the plaintiffs in Kitchen v. Herbert, the challenge to Utah’s same-sex marriage ban. A text entry in the docket for the Tenth Circuit appeal reported the appearance of NCLR attorneys Shannon Minter and Kate Kendell: “Notice of appearance filed by …

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Why Marriage Matters

Clip recap: A coalition of state and national organizations will launch a statewide television ad today featuring a New Mexican family who represent the broad, majority support for the recent ruling by the state Supreme Court that grants every loving couple the freedom to marry. The ad will appear on both network and cable television throughout the state. It features …

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Kate Kendell’s Daughter Just Got Married

The daughter of National Center for Lesbian Rights head Kate Kendell just got married in the Salt Lake County office. Hundreds of others are still waiting for their turn and all eyes are on phones as they await Shelby’s ruling.

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HomoQuotable – Kate Kendell

“It is repellent that extremist religious opposition worldwide is such a corrosive impediment to basic human rights. The groundbreaking Delhi high court decision would have stood had religious opponents not attempted, now successfully, to roll it back. Even the Indian government refused to defend the law in court. We are unfortunately in a global culture war with many more challenges …

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IDAHO: Marriage Lawsuit Filed

And today we add Idaho to the ever-growing list. Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights: Today, four same-sex couples filed a federal lawsuit in Boise challenging Idaho’s laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying and refuse to respect the legal marriages of same-sex couples who married in other states. The couples, all from Boise, include university …

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LGBT Rights Groups Denounce Supreme Court’s Ruling On Voting Rights Act

LGBT Rights Coalition We, America’s leading LGBT advocacy organizations, join civil rights organizations – and indeed, all Americans whom this law has served to protect – in expressing acute dismay at today’s ruling. Not only had Congress repeatedly reaffirmed the need for this bedrock civil rights protection, but authoritative voices from across America had filed amicus briefs urging the court …

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