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Marriage & Relationships

After marriage equality, LGBTQ people still face significant discrimination related to their relationships and families. Many states still do not treat same-sex spouses equally in every respect, and unmarried partners in most states lack full protections. NCLR works to ensure that marriage equality is a reality for same-sex spouses, including access to common law marriages, and to advance laws protecting unmarried partners.

NCLR represented the Tennessee plaintiffs in the marriage equality cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and served as counsel in many of the state marriage equality cases. After achieving marriage equality, NCLR has continued our work to ensure that all relationships and families are recognized and free from discrimination.

Advocacy

Legislation & Policy

Uniform Laws Protecting Nonmarital Relationships

Nationwide

Few states provide strong protections for people in nonmarital relationships — some states do not even recognize that unmarried couples even have the right to enter into cohabitation agreements. The Uniform Law Commission is currently drafting a Uniform Act, the Economic Rights for Unmarried Cohabitants, to provide a basis for states to provide some recognition for nonmarital relationships. NCLR is an Observer for the drafting committee, providing input and representing the needs of LGBTQ people in nonmarital relationships as the uniform legislation is being drafted.

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Cases & Advocacy

Reed v. KRON/IBEW Local 45 Pension Plan

California

On August 9, 2016, the widower of a former KRON4 employee sued Young Broadcasting of San Francisco and the KRON/IBEW Local 45 Pension Plan for refusing to provide him with a spousal pension benefit even though the couple were registered domestic partners.

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Resources

Press Release

NCLR Statement on President Biden Signing Respect for Marriage Act

December 13, 2022. “This afternoon, President Biden not only ended the discriminatory so-called Defense of Marriage Act, he also enshrined marriage equality into a federal statute for the first time in the history of the United States,” said NCLR Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon. “By signing the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act into law, President Biden once again demonstrated his unwavering commitment to protecting equality for all.”

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