Fact Sheet

New York has enacted legislation providing same-sex couples with equal access to marriage. This document explains how marriage equality may affect same-sex couples and families with low or no income, and provides general information about your legal rights. Please note that this document is not intended to provide legal advice or guidance regarding any specific situation.

The REPEAL ("Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal") HIV Discrimination Act, introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, addresses the serious problem of discrimination in the use of criminal and civil commitment laws against those who test positive for HIV.

In recent years, the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has refused to grant tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status to LGBT community centers with a more than insubstantial amount of activities that appear to be social or recreational in nature. LGBT community centers may therefore wish to exercise caution in the amount of such activities that they undertake.

As of October 1, 2009, the State of Nevada allows two people to register as domestic partners. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about registered domestic partnerships.

When and how to get married in New York.

On February 10, 2011, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) issued a letter to state birth registrars announcing a procedure change allowing a woman to be named as a parent on the Maryland birth certificate of the child born to her same-sex married spouse, without the necessity of a court order.

The Hawai`i civil union law will take effect January 1, 2012, and civil union partners will have access to the full range of state law rights and responsibilities when they enter into their civil union. Rights and responsibilities related to Hawai`i state tax laws will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.

Providing for Lambda Legal’s work in your estate plans is a wonderful way to create a lasting legacy. Resources no longer needed can be used in your name to make the world a better place for the next generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. And until a cure is found, we’ll continue to secure the civil rights of people with HIV or AIDS.

April 11, 2014 is the National Day of Silence, a student-led action sponsored by Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) in which thousands of students around the country will remain silent for all or part of the school day to call attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.