Supreme Court delays date of marriage case consideration until Nov. 30
Posted on Nov 14, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court updated its case docket to reflect that it had rescheduled the date that it will consider whether it will review any marriage cases during its next session. The conference is now set for Friday, November 30.
What makes a gay soldier different from a straight soldier?
Posted on Nov 09, 2012 at 04:32 pm
This Sunday is Veterans Day, the annual holiday where we celebrate the amazing work, service, and devotion of our armed services veterans. To honor our servicemembers, we're launching a new video with OutServe-SLDN called "Same Skin."
U.S. Supreme Court sets date to decide whether it will take DOMA and Prop 8 cases
Posted on Oct 29, 2012 at 10:45 am
The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will consider whether or not it will review federal constitutional challenges to two marriage cases - the Proposition 8 case in California and one or more of the challenges facing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act - at its private conference on Tuesday, November 20.
Lead plaintiffs in DOMA case call for the freedom to marry in new video
Posted on Oct 23, 2012 at 10:45 am
This week marks the first anniversary of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) announcing the filing of McLaughlin v. Panetta, a landmark lawsuit challenging the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Now, the lead plaintiffs in the case - Major Shannon McLaughlin of the Massachusetts National Guard and her wife Casey - are speaking out against DOMA in a new video.
Second Circuit Court of Appeals rules DOMA unconstitutional in ‘Windsor’ case
Posted on Oct 18, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second District, out of New York, ruled in Windsor v. United States that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. This marks the second time that a federal Court of Appeals has found DOMA unconstitutional, and it is the first appeals court decision to decide that government discrimination against gay and lesbian people should receive a more specific level of judicial review called "heightened scrutiny."
New written immigration guidelines will protect binational same-sex couples
Posted on Oct 10, 2012 at 10:45 am
This week, the Department of Homeland Security issued new written deportation guidelines for U.S. immigration officials that specifically clarify that discretionary relief will be extended to immigrants in same-sex partnerships or marriages with U.S. citizens. The memorandum clarifies that same-sex relationships that rise to the level of "family relationships" are long-term, same-sex relationships.
How DOMA makes Nathalie Gaulthier a permanent guest in the country she calls home
Posted on Oct 04, 2012 at 04:00 pm
Because of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, same-sex couples are deprived of more than 1,000 protections and responsibilities afforded to married different-sex couples. For Nathalie and Hope - and thousands of other binational same-sex couples like them - this includes the ability to sponsor your spouse for a green card to allow them to move permanently to the United States.
Documentary showcases CW2 Charlie Morgan’s fight against DOMA and cancer
Posted on Oct 03, 2012 at 03:48 pm
A new release from The Legal Stranger Project takes a look at the life of Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) Charlie Morgan, who recently returned from a deployment in Kuwait and is now battling incurable stage-four breast cancer. Should she not survive, her wife Karen would be unable to access any of the survivor benefits that she would need to take care of their five-year-old daughter Casey Elena.
DHS clarifies immigration policy to protect binational same-sex couples from deportation
Posted on Oct 01, 2012 at 01:00 pm
On Friday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the DHS will issue written guidance for U.S. immigration officers to ensure that discretionary relief is extended to immigrants in same-sex partnerships or marriages with U.S. citizens. The guidelines mark one of the first times that same-sex couples will be recognized by U.S. immigration policies
For Summer and Celeste, DOMA repeal means protection for their daughter
Posted on Sep 26, 2012 at 09:30 am
Although they have been together for almost three years, Summer says that she and fiancé Celeste struggle to have their relationship recognized by the Army. This is largely due to the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which forces the U.S. military to discriminate against same-sex couples and their families because it denies federal respect of marriages between same-sex couples.