Friend-of-the-Court Brief of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (“GLAD”) were lead counsel for plaintiffs in Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, 440 Mass. 309 (2003), the lawsuit that successfully challenged the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage under Massachusetts law. Based on its experience in the Goodridge litigation, GLAD highlights the need for this Court to implement immediate relief for the plaintiffs here. GLAD explains that the Goodridge ruling was put into effect solely by the executive branch and with minimal effort, such as changing marriage related forms. The Massachusetts legislature took no steps to effectuate the decision. The brief also submits evidence that, since the Goodridge decision, the cultural and political landscapes in Massachusetts increasingly favor marriage equality. Ropes & Gray is counsel for amici.