9/27/2007

"They were designed to give same-sex couples all the benefits of marriage by a different name, but civil unions in New Jersey are a 'failed experiment,' the president of the state's largest lawyers' organization said last night.

8/30/2007

"...District Judge Robert Hanson, citing what he said is the inherent unfairness of an Iowa law that says that 'only a marriage between a male and a female is valid,' ordered the Polk County recorder on Thursday to begin applying state marriage rules 'in a gender neutral manner so as to permit same-sex couples to enter into a civil marriage.'

8/30/2007

"A county judge struck down Iowa's decade-old gay marriage ban as unconstitutional Thursday and ordered local officials to process marriage licenses for six gay couples.

"Gay couples from anywhere in Iowa could apply for a marriage license from Polk County under Judge Robert Hanson's ruling.

"...A hearing is likely to be held on the stay motion next week, said Camilla Taylor, an attorney with Lambda Legal, a New York-based gay rights organization.

8/27/2007

"The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announced the recipients of the 2007 Salute to Excellence Awards Saturday, August 11th. The annual competition honors work in print, television, radio, online and photojournalism.

"...The best radio commentary award went to Cory Turner and Nicole Childers' Personal View on the New Jersey Same Sex Marriage Ban which aired on National Public Radio."

8/4/2007

"Should the legal ties between parents and their adopted child unravel if the family leaves the state where the adoption decree was handed down?

"Of course, not. The very idea is outrageous.

"But that's what Oklahoma lawmakers were striving for in 2004 with their chillingly titled 'Adoption Invalidation Law,' which targeted adopted children with gay parents.

8/4/2007

"The federal appeals court in Denver on Friday struck down Oklahoma's law that bans state recognition of out-of-state adoptions by same-sex parents.

"The ruling is a victory for gay and lesbian couples who adopt children.

"...An attorney for the same-sex parents, Kenneth Upton, speaking from his office in Dallas, said, 'We're just real happy for these parents and their kids.'

8/4/2007

"An Oklahoma law that bars state recognition of adoptions from other states by same-sex parents is unconstitutional, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday. The ruling is a victory for gay and lesbian couples who adopt children.

"It is a defeat for Oklahoma legislators who passed the law in 2004 and for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which sought to uphold the law.

7/22/2007

"Ron Garber knew his former wife was living with another woman — and had taken her last name — when he agreed to pay her $1,250 a month in alimony.

"What he didn't know was that the two women had registered with the state as domestic partners under a law that was supposed to mirror marriage law, Garber said.

7/21/2007

"Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey sent a letter on Friday urging United Parcel Service to provide the same benefits for civil union partners as it does for married couples.

"The letter stemmed from complaints made by a truck driver for the company who has been unable to get health benefits for her partner after they became one of the first New Jersey couples to obtain a civil union.

7/28/2007

"A company that provides health care coverage to married gay couples in Massachusetts has denied the same benefits to a couple who entered a civil union in New Jersey.

"United Parcel Service's decision to deny coverage to a Toms River couple boils down to a single word: New Jersey law does not call them 'spouses.'

"'We were supposed to be treated equally. We should be treated equally,' said Heather Aurand, who was denied health care coverage by UPS, which employs her civil union partner.