In the News

"This week marks the two-year anniversary of the California Supreme Court's unfortunate decision upholding Proposition 8 as a valid exercise of the state's initiative process. A coalition argued that under the state Constitution, members of a minority group cannot be stripped of the fundamental right to marry based on the vote of a bare majority. The court, however, disagreed.

"Advocates of gay and lesbian rights say the civil union law is a historic moment worthy of celebration, but they stress that it in no way marks the end of their work.

"...Camilla Taylor, an attorney with Lambda Legal in Chicago, a group that helped draft Illinois' civil union bill, said full marriage rights are the end goal, and she expects that having civil unions will highlight some of the problems of creating a separate, marriagelike classification.

"Same-sex civil unions become legal in Illinois next week, and backers plan a downtown event to celebrate the occasion.

"...Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov said judges will be on hand to perform ceremonies for 30 couples.

"...Cherkasov said he expects some confusion to take place when the law changes. But Lambda Legal attorney Christopher Clark said he has no indication that any county clerks will try to stand in the way of the licensing procedure."

During the Equality and Justice Day rally in Albany, marriage equality was the issue on many people's minds. It's the LGBT debate with the most national traction in headlines and financial support on both sides of the issue. But as the hundreds of advocates rallied on the lawn in front of the state house began chanting and waving placards, the first phrase of that familiar protest singsong was: "What do we want? GENDA! When do we want it? Now!" GENDA is the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that would protect transgender people in employment, housing, services and public accommodations.

"Gov. Pat Quinn and Cook County Clerk David Orr will be among those in attendance for a historic ceremony next month, in which 30 gay and lesbian couples will be joined in civil unions in Millennium Park.

"The event is set for June 2, the day after civil unions officially become legal in Illinois. It is being organized by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on LGBT issues...

The prestigious law firm King & Spalding has not fully explained its decision this week to stop assisting Congress in defending the law that forbids federal recognition of same-sex marriage. But its reversal suggests the extent to which gay men and lesbians have persuaded much of the legal profession to accept the basic proposition that sexual orientation is irrelevant to a person's worth and that the law should reflect this judgment. The decision cannot be dismissed simply as a matter of political correctness or bullying by gays. Gay-rights supporters have transformed the law and the legal profession, opening the doors of law firms, law schools and courts to people who were once casually and cruelly shut out because of their sexual orientation

Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart writes: "Amid all the drama of the last few days with a law firm accepting then rejecting the ugly contract offered by the House leadership to defend DOMA in court, we should not lose sight of the real issues: First, DOMA is discriminatory, unconstitutional and indefensible. Second, House leaders are not only willing to spend taxpayers' money defending DOMA—they are also trying to silence debate.

"A prominent law firm hired by Republican lawmakers to defend the federal ban on gay marriage said Monday it was withdrawing from the case amid criticism by advocacy groups, prompting the partner leading the work to quit...

"Jon Davidson, the legal director of the gay-rights group Lambda Legal, said 'we welcome the firm back to the right side of history.'"

Read more on ap.org.

Law firm King & Spalding announced Monday it will not defend the Defense of Marriage Act on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives. Afterward, Paul Clement, the partner who had taken the case, announced he intends to defend the law with another firm.

"Members of the LGBT legal community are seriously considering breaking ties with the firm King & Spalding in light of this week's news that one of its partners, former Bush Solicitor General Paul Clement, has signed on to defend the federal ban on same-sex marriage on behalf of House Republicans.

"Jon Davidson, legal director of Lambda Legal, the nation's oldest and largest legal organization working for LGBT equality, had one word on the firm's decision to take the case: 'Depressing.'