NCLR was a member of a diverse coalition working to achieve and preserve marriage equality for same-sex couples in the District of Columbia. Since 2009, D.C. has recognized the marriages of same- sex couples performed in other jurisdictions. Opponents of marriage equality have made several attempts to put on the ballot initiatives to overturn D.C.’s marriage equality laws.

Nancy C. is an emergency dispatcher with the Alameda County Fire Department who married a Canadian citizen, in Canada, in October 2009. When Nancy learned about the passage of SB 54, the California law requiring the state government to grant all the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples who get married in other states or countries after November 5, 2008, she asked her employer to add her wife as a beneficiary on her health and retirement plans. The human resources department initially told her that they could not do so.

Marilynn Zupancic and her former partner Dianne were together for 30 years. Although they could not legally marry in their home state of Colorado, Marilynn and Dianne were partners in every respect. In 2007, their relationship ended and Marilynn was left with full responsibility for the entire mortgage that had paid for Dianne’s education.