Diaz v. Brewer

For the first time in history, the Court will be hearing two gay rights cases in one term, focusing public attention on the right of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals to equality under the law and of same-sex couples to have their relationships treated equally by the federal government and, at least, by the State of California.

The Court has now decided to hear one of the challenges to the provision of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) barring federal recognition of same-sex couples’ marriages and also to hear the challenge to California’s Proposition 8. What does it mean?

Lambda Legal represents seven lesbian and gay state employees who are challenging a move by the Arizona Legislature to eliminate the equal health care benefits that those employees rely on to safeguard their families' health—just as their heterosexual colleagues do.

With decisions last month in two high-profile cases in which we participated, and two Lambda Legal cases cued up for possible review next term, never before have we had so much at stake in a short period on the biggest legal stage in the country.