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Media Contacts

Tom Warnke – Media Relations Director

213-841-4503
twarnke@lambdalegal.org

Samy Nemir – Public Information Officer

202-672-4877
snemir@lambdalegal.org

Tyleis Davidson – Public Information Officer

678-492-1821
tdavidson@lambdalegal.org

Jonathan Adams - Communications Director

646-752-3251
jadams@lambdalegal.org

Press Releases

Read our latest news or search by issue area.

L.A. Domestic Partner Registry Opens Thursday, May 6

(LOS ANGELES, May 4, 1999) -- The first couples to be recognized as domestic partners by Los Angeles County will celebrate with other supporters of the newly created County registry, as unmarried couples line up to register on Thursday, May 6.

Sharing a 'Just Registered' cake at the ribbon-festooned festivities, several couples also will take part in a news conference Thursday hosted by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, joined by L.A. City Councilmember Jackie Goldberg.

Groups Issue Standards for Custody Disputes in Same-Sex Relationships

(NEW YORK, May 3, 1999) -- Hoping to help their communities avert a crisis, an ad-hoc alliance of LGBT legal and family-oriented organizations today launched an effort to provide guidelines for handling child custody matters when families break apart.

The recommended standards are contained in a publication entitled "Protecting Families: Standards for Child Custody Disputes in Same-Sex Relationships." The groups hope to see this widely circulated and followed by families in crisis and those who work with them.

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Three ADA Cases in Two Days, Testing Federal Civil Rights Protections for People with HIV

(NEW YORK, April 20, 1999) -- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said Tuesday that upcoming hearings in three cases before the United States Supreme Court are major tests of federal civil rights protections provided people with HIV and AIDS.

Lambda Hires Midwest Regional Director for Chicago Office

(CHICAGO, April 19, 1999) -- Matthew Roberts, a seasoned public policy and communications professional, has joined Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund in the newly created position of Midwest Regional Director.

Roberts will be responsible for administration, fundraising , and public education work in Lambda's Midwest Regional Office, which covers Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

Lambda to Join Anti-Police Brutality March

(NEW YORK, April 15, 1999) -- Adding its voice to protests of the fatal police shooting of unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said it would take part in Thursday's massive demonstration in a call for justice.

"Lambda joins thousands of grieving New Yorkers to demand a full and fair response to this tragedy," said Lambda Legal Director Beatrice Dohrn. "Police brutality is a scourge that especially victimizes the poor and people of color, including many lesbians and gay men."

Federal Court to Decide Whether Health Insurers can Discriminate by Disability

(CHICAGO, April 2, 1999) -- A federal appeals court in Chicago is set to examine the legality of setting drastic limits on health benefits for policyholders with a particular health problem -- HIV infection.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and AIDS Legal Council of Chicago (ALCC) have already won in district court on behalf of two Chicago men suing Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company for restricting their lifetime HIV-related coverage to a small fraction of that allowed for other medical conditions.

Lambda, City of Chicago Again Win with Defense of Domestic Partners Ordinance

(CHICAGO, March 31, 1999) -- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund exulted Wednesday with its latest victory upholding Chicago's domestic partners benefits law against an anti-gay challenge that is now a three-time loser.

The Illinois Appellate Court agreed with Lambda and the City of Chicago in Crawford v. City of Chicago that the city has the authority to provide health care insurance and other essential benefits to its lesbian and gay employees and their families.

New England Mutual Must Pay Disability Benefits to Policyholder with HIV

(NEW YORK, March 30, 1999) -- New York's highest court Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling against a major insurance company that sought to circumvent state law and avoid paying benefits to a policyholder disabled by AIDS. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, which worked closely with the policyholder's attorney, Mark Scherzer, applauded the decision.

Lambda Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Hear University of Wisconsin Student Fees Dispute

(CHICAGO, March 29, 1999) -- The United States Supreme Court Monday agreed to review a case that threatens to sharply curtail student activities at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and at public colleges and universities nationwide. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund hailed the move as a sign that the Court may eventually vindicate student speech on these campuses.

NEWS CONFERENCE: THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2 P.M. PST: Gay Teacher Wins Agreement That Bakersfield School Won't Discriminate

(LOS ANGELES, March 18, 1999) -- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund announced Thursday that client James Merrick had settled his sexual orientation discrimination case with a California school district. As part of the agreement, the district will apologize for removing 15 students from the award-winning teacher's science classes and will strengthen district non- discrimination policy.


The settlement will be discussed at a news conference with Merrick, Lambda, and the California Teachers Association, on Thursday, March 18, at 2 p.m.

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