Media Center

(Trenton, March 16, 2005) — A New Jersey tax court judge issued a ruling today in the case of a veteran who was seeking full property tax relief benefits allowed to married veterans. Since by law in New Jersey he can't marry his long-time partner, he only received 50 percent of the benefit. The judge ruled that the veteran and his partner of 30 years were entitled to the full 100 percent of the benefit under New Jersey's Domestic Partnership Law.

The case is Hennefeld and O'Dell v. Township of Montclair.

(San Francisco, March 14, 2005) — A California state trial court ruled today that same-sex couples must be allowed to marry, in a decision that Lambda Legal called “a historic breakthrough for couples who need the protections and security marriage provides.”

(Washington, D.C., February 24, 2005) — The United States Department of State illegally prohibits anyone with HIV from being hired as a Foreign Service Officer, regardless of the applicant's qualifications or health status, Lambda Legal will argue in federal court Friday. In Lambda Legal's federal lawsuit seeking to remove the ban on Foreign Service applicants with HIV, leading health experts have filed papers supporting a medically justified approach for assessing Foreign Service applicants. 

(Atlanta, February 16, 2005) — Lambda Legal today launched a nationwide drive to mobilize its members and the public to urge Nodak Enterprises not to discriminate against employees with HIV. Nodak, a major auto-glass retailer in several southern states, fired highly skilled glass installer Joey Saavedra because he has HIV.