(New York, February 13, 2006) — As polling continues to show increased support for marriage equality for same-sex couples in state after state, five national organizations today announced a new initiative to elevate communities of color who support marriage equality for same-sex couples.

(NEW YORK, June 22, 1998) -- In an important step in combating harassment of lesbian and gay students nationwide, the federal government reached agreement with the Fayetteville Public Schools in Arkansas on broad civil rights protections in the schools, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said Tuesday. The "Commitment to Resolve," entered into by the federal government and the school system, remedies an administrative complaint brought by a Fayetteville student, William Wagner.

(Trenton, February 15, 2006) — The New Jersey Supreme Court heard arguments this morning in Lambda Legal’s case seeking marriage for same-sex couples in that state.

(NEW YORK June 6, 1997) -- Immigration officials Thursday refused to resolve a Russian lesbian's asylum case and instead ruled that Alla Pitcherskaia must prove to an immigration judge that she is likely to be persecuted if returned to her native country, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said.

Pitcherskaia, 36, now a San Francisco resident, seeks asylum in the United States after being beaten, harassed, and forcibly detained by both the Russian police and organized crime members for being a lesbian and advocate for lesbians' and gay men's civil rights.

(Reno, Nevada, February 27, 2006) — Lambda Legal today announced the addition of the Progressive Leadership Alliance Nevada (PLAN) to the “Shame on You Harrah’s” campaign. The campaign is focused on Harrah’s firing of a veteran bartender, Darlene Jespersen, because she objected to the casino’s strict, mandatory make-up regimen for female employees.

(LOS ANGELES, May 27, 1998) -- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is urging a California appeals court to rule against an insurance industry practice aimed at denying disability benefits to people with AIDS and other illnesses.

On Wednesday, May 27, at the California Court of Appeal in Los Angeles, Lambda will argue on behalf of Mark Galanty, who is appealing a trial court decision that upheld the Paul Revere Life Insurance Company's refusal to pay his AIDS-related disability claim.

(New York, March 6, 2006) — Today, the Supreme Court upheld the Solomon Amendment, which forces law schools to allow military recruiters on campus if they wish to continue receiving public federal funds. A collection of law schools sued to invalidate the law as a violation of their First Amendment rights based on their opposition to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. While the unanimous opinion upholds the Solomon Amendment, it leaves room for students as well as the universities themselves to speak out against the military’s anti-gay policy and military recruiters.

(NEW YORK, May 22, 1998) -- On behalf of seven lesbian and gay Arkansas residents, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund next week will urge the Little Rock Chancery Court to reject government attorneys' efforts to have the plaintiffs' challenge to Arkansas' sodomy ban thrown out of court.

The plaintiffs contend that Arkansas' same-sex only ban is unconstitutional and severely harms lesbians and gay men in the state.

(Chicago, March 8, 2006) — Last night, Crystal Lake Park District Board voted to allow the Gay Games to hold its rowing competition at Crystal Lake, reversing an earlier denial of permission. Lambda Legal staff attorney, Jim Madigan, testified before the Board on behalf of the Gay Games, arguing that the Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the use of public accommodations such as Crystal Lake.

(LOS ANGELES, May 11, 1998) -- In a test of California's ban on employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, the state Court of Appeals in San Diego this week hears argument on behalf of a former insurance agent who suffered severe anti-gay harassment on the job, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said Monday.

To be heard Friday, May 15, by the state Court of Appeal in San Diego, this is one of the first appellate cases to test California employment discrimination protections based on sexual orientation.