From August 2010 eNews

Q. My sister, who is living with HIV, is about to go into prison. I am worried about her health. Is there anything she or I can do to ensure she gets proper care while she's inside?

A. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that prison officials must provide medical treatment to prisoners, regardless of whether they are in a federal, state, or local prison or jail.

From August 2010 eNews

A feeling of celebration is in the air. Yesterday, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker handed down a powerfully worded decision striking down California's Proposition 8, writing, "A private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite-sex couples is not a proper basis for legislation." He added that the evidence was "overwhelming" that Prop 8 violated due process and equal protection rights.

8/3/2010

"For most people, donating blood is as simple as rolling up a sleeve. But not for gay men. Since 1983, the Food and Drug Administration has barred them from donating.

"...Donated blood is routinely screened for H.I.V. and other infectious agents. The F.D.A. employs multiple safeguards, including donor evaluations and computerized blood testing, to ensure that infected blood is not distributed.

I am Jenny Pizer, Lambda Legal Senior Counsel, and I am here with my Lambda Legal colleagues Staff Attorney Tara Borelli and Regional Director Loren Javier. We are proud to be joined by our co-counsel in this litigation, Dan Gluck and Laurie Temple of the ACLU of Hawai`i and Clyde Wadsworth of the Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing law firm.

8/2/2010

"Nearly four years ago, Bremen Community School District 228 Superintendent Rich Mitchell was fired after his contract had been extended through 2009. Last week, the Cook County Human Rights Commission figured out why: because he is gay.

"Mitchell was interviewed for the leadership position in 2004 by the local School Board, according to a statement from Lambda Legal. While being interviewed, board member Evelyn Gleason allegedly asked two other members if they knew Dr. Mitchell was gay.

7/29/2010

"A group of supporters for civil unions filed a lawsuit against Gov. Linda Lingle on Thursday.

"The complaint filed in circuit court by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and Lambda Legal argues that the state violates the constitution by denying same sex couples the rights and protections currently available to heterosexual couples through marriage.

7/29/2010

"Six gay couples in Hawaii are filing a lawsuit Thursday asking for the same rights as married couples, three weeks after Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a same-sex civil unions measure.

"...The state grants some rights to gay couples through its reciprocal beneficiaries system.

"But they lack the same legal priviledges and obligations of adoption, child support, alimony and access to family court, said Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, which is bringing the case along with the American Civil Liberties Union.

7/29/2010

"Having been together since 2005, Sean Smith and Kale Taylor are like many committed couples -- they want to make things official.

"...Now Smith and Taylor, 29, are among six couples suing the state, alleging it has failed to provide equal rights to gays and lesbians short of marriage. The lawsuit, being filed today in Circuit Court, asks the court to step in where the Legislature did not and reverse the effect of Lingle's veto.

Tomorrow, Lambda Legal will hold a public education forum on police misconduct and what local organizations are doing to hold police accountable.

Last week, the Cook County Human Rights Commission found "substantial evidence" of sexual orientation discrimination after Lambda Legal filed a complaint against the Bremen Community High School District No. 228 and School Board President Evelyn Gleason on behalf of former school district superintendent Dr. Richard Mitchell.