Marriage

Search Blog

Find Your State

Know the laws in your state that protect LGBT people and people living with HIV.

Legal Help Desk

Call us or submit your legal questions online.

RSS Feed

Lambda Legal Urges Court to Rule in Florida Case Seeking Accurate Death Certificates

birchfield.jpg

By

June 20, 2016

Lambda Legal today announced it has filed papers with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida asking the court for a swift end to the harm and indignity that Florida same-sex spouses, like gay widowers Hal Birchfield and Paul Mocko, face when denied accurate death certificates that acknowledge they were married and recognize them as surviving spouses.

See Also: Marriage, Same-sex relationships
"Love Unites Us" Hits Bookstores June 14

love_unites_us_cover.png

By

June 7, 2016

Lambda Legal celebrates the first anniversary of marriage equality nationwide with the publication of "Love Unites Us: Winning the Freedom to Marry in America," edited by former Executive Director Kevin Cathcart and Education and Public Affairs Director Leslie Gabel-Brett.

See Also: Marriage, Same-sex relationships
New Judge Strikes Down Puerto Rico Marriage Ban Hours After Lambda Legal Victory

puerto-rico-rainbow.png

By

April 8, 2016

Just hours after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed for the second time that Puerto Rico’s ban on marriage for LGBT people is unconstitutional and ordered the case be reassigned to a new judge, District Court Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí issued a judgment striking down that ban.

See Also: Marriage, Marriage Relationships and Family Protections, Same-sex relationships
Victory! First Circuit Removes Judge and Reaffirms Ban’s Unconstitutionality in Lambda Legal Puerto Rico Marriage Case

800x800_pr1stcircuit.png

By

April 7, 2016

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit today once again affirmed that Puerto Rico’s marriage ban is unconstitutional and ordered the District Court of Puerto Rico to enter judgment in favor of Lambda Legal’s plaintiffs and, in light of the egregious disregard of its prior order, ordered that the case be reassigned to a different district court judge.

See Also: Marriage, Marriage Relationships and Family Protections, Same-sex relationships
Lambda Legal Asks Court of Appeals to Intervene in Puerto Rico Marriage Case

blog_logo_image.jpg

By

March 21, 2016

Lambda Legal filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit asking the court to make clear that last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which granted same-sex couples the right to marry, applies to Puerto Rico and to order the district court to enter judgment in favor of the plaintiffs.

See Also: Conde v. Garcia-Padilla, Marriage, Marriage Relationships and Family Protections, Puerto Rico
Lambda Legal Applauds Governor García Padilla’s Statement that Marriages will Continue in Puerto Rico

puerto-rico-rainbow.png

By

March 9, 2016

Today, Governor Alejandro García Padilla announced that the decision issued yesterday by the District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, holding that the historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges striking down discriminatory marriage bans nationwide did not apply to Puerto Rico because it is not a state, would not affect the ability of LGBT people in Puerto Rico to marry. Lambda Legal applauds the Governor’s announcement.

See Also: Marriage, Marriage Relationships and Family Protections, Same-sex relationships
Lambda Legal Condemns Puerto Rico Court Ruling Upholding Commonwealth’s Discriminatory Marriage Ban

puerto_rico_flag.png

By

March 8, 2016

Today, the U.S. District Court of the District of Puerto Rico ruled that the historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges striking down discriminatory marriage bans nationwide did not apply to Puerto Rico because it is not a state, and denied a joint motion brought by Lambda Legal and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to declare Puerto Rico’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional. Lambda Legal will appeal the ruling.

See Also: Anti-LGBT Rulings, Laws and Amendments, Marriage, Marriage Relationships and Family Protections, Same-sex relationships
Victory! SSA Grants Spousal Benefits to Texas Widow in Lambda Legal Case

ssa.jpg

By

March 8, 2016

Today Lambda Legal announced the resolution of its lawsuit against the Social Security Administration (SSA) brought on behalf of Kathy Murphy, a Texas widow denied spousal benefits after the death of her wife, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (the National Committee).

See Also: Marriage, Same-sex relationships, Social Security Administration
Victory! Lambda Legal Resolves Lawsuit on Behalf of American Military Partner Association for VA Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses

ll_logo_2_0_0.jpg

By

January 20, 2016

Today, Lambda Legal and the American Military Partner Association (AMPA) announced that they are concluding litigation against the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) following the VA’s changes to its policies on benefits ending discrimination against veterans and their same-sex spouses.

See Also: Marriage, Marriage Relationships and Family Protections, Same-sex relationships
15 in 2015: Lambda Legal’s Year in Review

ll_logo_2_0_0.jpg

By

December 26, 2015

2015 was a historic year in the fight for equality for LGBT people and those living with HIV, and Lambda Legal led the fight in courts and communities across the country. Here are some of the highlights of Lambda Legal’s work this year:

See Also: Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice and Police Misconduct, Employment and Rights in the Workplace, Fair Courts Project, Health Care Fairness, HIV, Housing, Immigration, LAWS AND AMENDMENTS, Marriage, RACIAL JUSTICE & LOW-INCOME ADVOCACY, Relationships and Family Protections, Seniors, Transgender Rights, Youth and Schools, Youth in Out-of-Home Care