In the News

The bankruptcy case that became one of many battlegrounds in the fight over the Defense of Marriage Act has come to an end, with the Justice Department and congressional Republicans bowing out of the fight.

On March 26, 2003, Paul Smith argued to the United States Supreme Court that the justices should declare sodomy laws unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution—despite the court's opinion of less than 20 years earlier to the contrary.

"Seven gay couples and many of their children filed a lawsuit Wednesday to demand New Jersey recognize gay marriage, saying it's the only way to solve inequities created by the state's four-year-old civil union law.

"...The lawsuit, filed in state court by the national gay rights law firm Lambda Legal and the New Jersey gay rights group Garden State Equality, came less than a week after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law allowing gay marriage in that neighboring state. But it's the latest step in a nine-year legal battle in New Jersey."

"Seven gay and lesbian New Jersey couples, along with many of their children, are going to court to try to force the state to recognize gay marriage.

"The families say in their legal complaint that the state's civil union law designed to give gay couples the same legal protections as married couples has not fulfilled that promise.

"...Their lawyer, Lambda Legal's Hayley Gorenberg, said most people in places like medical offices don't want to discriminate against them, but don't understand the rights conferred through civil unions.

"New York’s approval of same-sex marriage was a testament to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s political courage. In the New Jersey governor’s office, it is good sense that is in short supply on this issue.

"It appears as though there are sufficient votes in the State Legislature to pass a marriage-equality bill in New Jersey — a positive change from last year when the freedom to marry was defeated in the Democratic-led State Senate. The obstacle is Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican.

"Will the Knights of Columbus be required to open their halls for gay weddings if New York lawmakers legalize same-sex marriage? Will Catholic adoption agencies be forced to choose between placing children with gay married couples or leaving the business?

"As New York moves closer to a vote on legislation that would make it the sixth and largest state where same-sex marriage is allowed, some Republicans are demanding stronger legal protections for religious organizations that object to the practice.

"A Dane County judge ruled Monday that the state’s Domestic Partner Registry does not violate the state Constitution.

"In a 53-page decision, Circuit Court Judge Daniel Moeser said the registry, which went into effect Aug. 1, 2009, does not violate the Marriage Amendment to the state’s Constitution passed in 2006.

"A lesbian who doesn't want to share custody of her 7-year-old biological daughter with her former partner persuaded an appeals court this week to revoke the other woman's visitation rights.

"...Defending the rights of non-biological parents is crucial in states such as Ohio where there is no statewide recognition of gay relationships, said Christopher Clark, a senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal, a gay-rights group in Chicago.

"Civil unions became legal Wednesday in Illinois, granting both same-sex and heterosexual couples the same legal protections and responsibilities that married couples receive, including the ability to make medical decisions for an ailing partner and the right to inherit a partner's property.

"...Christopher Clark, senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal, says there are several key differences between civil unions and marriage.

"More than 100 same-sex couples lined up outside of a Chicago municipal building Wednesday morning to obtain licenses for civil unions, under a new Illinois law.