(Trenton, December 7, 2004) – This morning, a state appeals court heard arguments in Lambda Legal’s case seeking marriage for same-sex couples in New Jersey. It’s not clear when the appeals court will issue its ruling in the case, which can then be appealed to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

David Buckel, Lambda Legal’s Marriage Project Director and the lead attorney on the case, argued on behalf of the plaintiffs today. Following is a brief statement from Buckel, issued immediately after this morning’s oral arguments:

(CHICAGO, April 12, 2000) -- After fighting all the way to the United States Supreme Court, Mutual of Omaha Insurance has announced plans to end its unjustified discrimination against policyholders with HIV by lifting special restrictions on medical coverage for HIV or AIDS-related care.

(NEW YORK, Tuesday, April 11, 2000) —The same Salt Lake City school district that gained notoriety by banning dozens of student clubs in order to block the formation of a gay-straight alliance (GSA) is under fire once again. In a lawsuit filed Monday, students charge the assistant superintendent with again violating the law and the district’s own policies in order to keep clubs with a gay perspective off school grounds.

(LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2000) —A Massachusetts-based insurer that callously refused to pay disability benefits to a long-time policyholder with HIV should stand trial for violating state law that prohibits such unfair insurance practices, said Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Monday.

(NEW YORK, March 29, 2000) — Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund filed its legal brief with the United States Supreme Court Wednesday, urging the justices to uphold the New Jersey Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling against the Boy Scouts of America’s all-out ban on gay members.

(Oklahoma City, December 8, 2004) – In an order made public late yesterday, a federal judge gave the green light to Lambda Legal’s lawsuit that seeks to strike down Oklahoma’s antigay adoption law.

U. S. District Judge Robin Cauthron found that the lawsuit filed against Oklahoma’s Governor Brad Henry and Attorney General Drew Edmondson can go forward. The state had asked the court to dismiss the case.

(LOS ANGELES, March 22, 2000)—In a case concerning two Alaskan landlords who refuse to rent to unmarried couples, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund argues that gay people and many others are at risk if individuals can use personal beliefs to exempt themselves from fair housing and other anti-discrimination laws.

(NEW YORK, March 22, 2000) — The unanimous United States Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday upholding funding systems commonly used by universities to support student activities protects free speech and the rights of all students at public universities, said Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, which represents gay and other student groups involved in the case.

(LOS ANGELES, March 9, 2000) — An award-winning high school teacher mercilessly harassed for being a lesbian is asking a California appellate court to reinstate her employment discrimination case against her school district, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said Thursday.

The case is California’s first appeals-court challenge of anti-gay harassment of a teacher.

(LOS ANGELES, March 8, 2000) — California voters have approved Proposition 22, a divisive ballot measure that for the first time in California history restricts which out-of-state marriages the state government will honor. But the terms of the debate regarding gay people’s equality and freedom to marry have shifted dramatically, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said Wednesday, and the challenge now for the measure’s backers is to show that the Knight Initiative was not aimed at harming lesbian and gay families.