"New York’s approval of same-sex marriage was a testament to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s political courage. In the New Jersey governor’s office, it is good sense that is in short supply on this issue.

"It appears as though there are sufficient votes in the State Legislature to pass a marriage-equality bill in New Jersey — a positive change from last year when the freedom to marry was defeated in the Democratic-led State Senate. The obstacle is Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican.

Today, the New York state legislature voted to pass the marriage equality bill introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo, ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in New York. New York becomes the sixth state in the nation, in addition to the District of Columbia, where same-sex couples have the right to marry.

(Baltimore, MD, June 23, 2011) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and Lambda Legal hailed a ruling by the Washington County Circuit Court recognizing that Maryland's law protecting persons from being forced to testify in court against their spouse applies equally to same-sex spouses validly married outside of Maryland. The ruling sends a strong message that legally married same-sex couples are entitled to recognition of their marriages under Maryland law.

"Will the Knights of Columbus be required to open their halls for gay weddings if New York lawmakers legalize same-sex marriage? Will Catholic adoption agencies be forced to choose between placing children with gay married couples or leaving the business?

"As New York moves closer to a vote on legislation that would make it the sixth and largest state where same-sex marriage is allowed, some Republicans are demanding stronger legal protections for religious organizations that object to the practice.

(Portland, OR, June 21, 2011)—This morning, Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of Alec Esquivel, a state employee who was denied insurance coverage for medically necessary surgery because he is transgender.

"A Dane County judge ruled Monday that the state’s Domestic Partner Registry does not violate the state Constitution.

"In a 53-page decision, Circuit Court Judge Daniel Moeser said the registry, which went into effect Aug. 1, 2009, does not violate the Marriage Amendment to the state’s Constitution passed in 2006.

(Madison, Wisconsin, June 20, 2011)—Today, the Circuit Court, Branch 11 in Dane County, Wisconsin, upheld as constitutional the state's Domestic Partner Registry.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled today that being gay doesn't disqualify a judge from ruling impartially on a case involving rights that impact lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

(Washington D.C., June 14, 2011) - After the U.S. Department of Education released a guidance letter to school districts across the country making clear that gay straight alliances must be allowed to form on an equal basis with other student groups Lambda Legal issued the following statement from Deputy Legal Director Hayley Gorenberg.

"A lesbian who doesn't want to share custody of her 7-year-old biological daughter with her former partner persuaded an appeals court this week to revoke the other woman's visitation rights.

"...Defending the rights of non-biological parents is crucial in states such as Ohio where there is no statewide recognition of gay relationships, said Christopher Clark, a senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal, a gay-rights group in Chicago.