Lambda Legal Says U.S. Supreme Court Declining To Hear Challenge to Same-Sex Couples Marrying in Massachusetts Is 'Another Reminder that When Same-Sex Couples Are Allowed To Marry, Other Couples Don't Lose Rights or Respect'

(Washington, DC, November 29, 2004) -- Lambda Legal issued the following statement this morning after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case from right-wing antigay groups challenging a Massachusetts state law that allows same-sex couples to marry. The statement is from David Buckel, Lambda Legal Marriage Project Director.

"We're not at all surprised that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to weigh in on the state marriage law in Massachusetts. This was a weak and misguided legal effort from right-wing antigay groups that never really stood much chance of being heard at the Supreme Court. The bottom line is that nobody is being harmed by the Massachusetts state law treating all couples equally. For more than six months, same-sex couples in Massachusetts have been getting married, and nobody else's marriage has been affected. Massachusetts continues to have the nation's lowest divorce rate. This is another reminder that when loving, committed same-sex couples are allowed to marry, other couples don't lose rights or respect. The only thing that's different is that loving, committed same-sex couples have the critical protections their families need." -- David Buckel, Marriage Project Director, Lambda Legal

Lambda Legal is currently suing in four states -- California, New Jersey, New York and Washington -- on behalf of same-sex couples seeking marriage. The New Jersey case will be heard at a state appeals court next week, and briefs were filed in state courts last Wednesday in the Washington and California cases. (The Washington case was filed jointly with the Northwest Women's Law Center, and the California case was filed jointly with lead counsel the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the ACLU.) For more background on these cases and marriage for same-sex couples, go to: