Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced Thursday that the committee intends to hold the first-ever congressional hearing concerning DOMA repeal in the coming weeks. The announcement follows actions taken earlier this year by Senators including California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand on behalf of the Respect for Marriage Act, a…
President Obama spoke at a Democratic National Committee event in New York yesterday and addressed a crowd of prominent LGBT constituents with a speech designed to galvanize campaign support and recognize the impact of the administration’s equal rights and anti-discrimination efforts made on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. After thanking the gathered…
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles opined today that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional as it pertains to joint bankruptcy filing. MetroWeekly reports that the case in question involves same-sex married couple Gene Douglas Balas and Carlos A. Morales and, in the words…
On June 10, the Obama Adminstration set forth new policy guidelines expanding states’ ability to provide same-sex couples with the same coverage offered to straight couples via Medicaid. The Washington Blade reports that, under the new guidelines, states may permit physically able partners in same-sex relationships to retain their homes even if their ill or…
Rest assured, LGBT presence is evident and welcomed throughout American corporations, large and small… but especially large. Like Coca Cola for example – one of King & Spalding’s largest clients. That’s why it comes as no surprise to learn that King & Spalding dropped their defense of DOMA this week, knowing the connections of the…
The law firm of King & Spalding filed a motion today to withdraw from defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a discriminatory practice that prohibits gay and lesbian marriages to be recognized under federal law. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the law firm decided to withdraw from the discriminatory defense…
Lambda Legal National Marriage Project Director Jennifer C. Pizer issued a proud statement today in response to the bicameral introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act. Beginning with a brief background on the formulation and passage of DOMA in 1996, Pizer explained that Congress “made a theoretical pronouncement” based on outdated views and popular anxiety….
After voting to initiate legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act earlier this month, House Republican leaders now turn to their lawyers for action. The House GOP legal counsel will take on Edith Windsor, her legal representatives and the Department of Justice when their case comes before the court on May 9, 2011. U.S….
Democratic U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA), Patrick Leahy (VT), Kristen Gillibrand (NY), Christopher Coons (DE) and Richard Blumenthal (CT) will hold a press conference Wednesday in order to announce legislation designed to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The conference will take place at 2:00 pm Wednesday in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in…
After significant media debate leading up to yesterday’s vote, House Republican leaders voted to authorize a legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The move comes in response to the Obama Administration’s decision to cease defense of Section 3 on constitutional grounds. Michael Steel, a spokesperson for Speaker of the House John Boehner,…
