7/29/2010

"Six gay couples in Hawaii are filing a lawsuit Thursday asking for the same rights as married couples, three weeks after Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a same-sex civil unions measure.

"...The state grants some rights to gay couples through its reciprocal beneficiaries system.

"But they lack the same legal priviledges and obligations of adoption, child support, alimony and access to family court, said Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, which is bringing the case along with the American Civil Liberties Union.

7/29/2010

"Having been together since 2005, Sean Smith and Kale Taylor are like many committed couples -- they want to make things official.

"...Now Smith and Taylor, 29, are among six couples suing the state, alleging it has failed to provide equal rights to gays and lesbians short of marriage. The lawsuit, being filed today in Circuit Court, asks the court to step in where the Legislature did not and reverse the effect of Lingle's veto.

Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawai‘i Foundation today filed suit against the State of Hawai`i three weeks after Governor Linda Lingle's veto of House Bill 444, a bill that would have allowed unmarried couples to enter into civil unions with comprehensive state law rights and responsibilities. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of six same-sex couples, five from O`ahu and one from Hawai`i Island.

Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i Foundation (ACLU) will hold a news conference July 29, 2010 to announce the filing of a lawsuit against Governor Linda Lingle and the State of Hawai`i following Lingle's veto of HB 444, the civil unions bill. A post-filing "talk story" event for civil unions allies will follow that evening.

Tomorrow, Lambda Legal will hold a public education forum on police misconduct and what local organizations are doing to hold police accountable.

Last week, the Cook County Human Rights Commission found "substantial evidence" of sexual orientation discrimination after Lambda Legal filed a complaint against the Bremen Community High School District No. 228 and School Board President Evelyn Gleason on behalf of former school district superintendent Dr. Richard Mitchell.

The Supreme Court of New Jersey issued a 3-3 ruling today against a motion seeking marriage equality filed by Lambda Legal on behalf of plaintiffs in the original Lewis v. Harris lawsuit.

7/24/2010

"A federal judge has blocked Arizona from denying family health insurance to employees' same-sex partners, saying the state violated the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

"...The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer in September, amended the definition of 'dependent' under state law to mean either a child or 'a spouse under the laws of this state.' That change prevented the partners of gay and lesbians, who are legally unable to marry, from receiving benefits.

U.S. District Court Judge John W. Sedwick today granted Lambda Legal's request for a preliminary injunction blocking the elimination of domestic partner benefits for gay and lesbian Arizona State employees. The judge also substantially denied a motion to dismiss the case by State's Attorney Charles Grube, ordering that the case proceed on the merits.

Late yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin ruled that discrimination claims filed by Lambda Legal and the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) on behalf of Melody Rose will proceed to trial.