Press Release

(Chicago, IL, March 19, 2014) — Late last night, after a years long battle with cancer, Chicago activist and Lambda Legal plaintiff Vernita Gray passed away at her home with her wife Patricia Ewert at her side.

(Phoenix, AZ, March 13, 2014) – Lambda Legal today filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Arizona on behalf of seven same-sex couples and the surviving spouses of two additional same-sex couples challenging Arizona’s discriminatory marriage ban.

(Indianapolis, IN, March 12, 2014) – On Monday, in the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana, Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of three same-sex couples who seek the freedom to marry in their home state of Indiana.

(Las Vegas, March 10, 2014) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today set April 9, 2014 for oral arguments in Sevcik v. Sandoval, Lambda Legal’s lawsuit challenging Nevada’s discriminatory marriage ban. Jon W. Davidson, Lambda Legal’s Legal Director and Eden/Rushing Chair issued the following statement:

“This is great news for our couples who have been working so long to have their case heard. We’re very excited to make the case for equality at the Ninth Circuit.”

(Baton Rouge, LA, March 10, 2014) – U.S. District Court hearing came to a positive ending today when BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (BCBS) and two other Louisiana insurersagreed to continue to accept federally-funded third party premium payments on behalf of lower-income Louisianans living with HIV through November 15, 2014, when the next open enrollment period begins.

(Richmond, March 10, 2014) - Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted the motion to intervene in Bostic v. Rainey that had been filed by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia on behalf of a class of all Virginia's same-sex couples. The class is simultaneously challenging the state's marriage ban in its own case, Harris v. Rainey.

(Des Moines, IA,March 10, 2014) — Today the Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments in Lambda Legal’s case representing Nick Rhoades, an HIV-positive Iowan in his appeal for post-conviction relief.

(New York, March 6, 2014) — Today, Lambda Legal filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit urging the court to uphold the New Jersey law prohibiting state-licensed mental health providers from using dangerous efforts to change the identities of LGBTQ youth – sometimes referred to as “conversion therapy” or "ex-gay therapy."

(New Orleans, LA, February 20, 2014) – Lambda Legal today filed a federal class action discrimination lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (BCBS), which will no longer accept the federally-funded premium subsidies that enable low-income Louisianans living with HIV to purchase health insurance.

(Dallas, TX, February 26, 2014) – A U.S. District Court judge in Texas today struck down Texas’ discriminatory ban denying same-sex couples the ability to marry in the state.