A statement from Executive Director Kate Kendell (San Francisco, CA, July 6, 2010)—Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) condemned Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle’s veto of a bill that would have allowed both same-sex and different-sex couples in Hawaii to protect their families by entering into civil unions. A statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell: “Governor Lingle has demonstrated a shocking disregard for the well-being of Hawaii families. The civil-union bill...
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same-sex couples
In this case, anti-gay groups asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision ordering the release of the names of 138,000 people who signed petitions supporting a ballot initiative to repeal basic protections for same-sex couples in Washington State. In November 2009, Washington voters rejected this attempt Referendum 71—and preserved the state’s domestic partnership law. The anti-gay groups were seeking to strike down a Washington law requiring disclosure of the petitions as public...
(Annapolis, MD, May 19, 2010) — Heartened that the State of Maryland has taken an important step forward for the rights of all families, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, Equality Maryland, the Maryland Black Family Alliance, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights today lauded the state Department of Budget and Management for its decision to make the Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program inclusive of same-sex couples who have valid marriages...
A Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell (Washington, D.C., April 15, 2010) — Today President Barack Obama ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in hospital visitation. The new rule will grant hospital visitation rights to same-sex partners, and making it easier for LGBTQ people to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners. A statement from Kate Kendell, Executive...
(Washington, D.C., March 8, 2010) — Today, Lambda Legal, American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality Maryland, and the American Civil Liberties Union released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide for same-sex couples in Maryland who married out of state. These leading advocacy groups have jointly released the following statement: “This FAQ follows a favorable opinion by Maryland Attorney Douglas Gansler that says recognition of out-of-state...
A Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell (San Francisco, CA, March 4, 2010) — Today Mexico City’s marriage equality bill takes effect, granting same-sex couples the rights, responsibilities and protections guaranteed by marriage, in addition to the right to adopt. The bill passed Mexico City’s legislature with a vote of 39-20 on December 21, 2009 and was upheld by Mexico’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. Mexico City is the second municipality after...
NCLR was a member of the Campaign for All D.C. Families, a diverse coalition working to achieve and preserve marriage equality for same-sex couples in the District of Columbia. Since July 6, 2009, D.C. has recognized the marriages of same- sex couples performed in other jurisdictions. On December 15, 2009, the D.C. City Council passed “The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009,” which permits same-sex couples to marry. Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the...
A.G. says state law calls for recognition of marriages of same-sex couples (Washington, D.C., February 24, 2010) — The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) hails the opinion issued today by Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler that the marriages of same-sex couples validly entered into in other jurisdictions may be recognized by the state. The decision predicts that the Maryland high court likely would “recognize a same-sex marriage contracted validly in another jurisdiction.”...
(San Francisco, CA, December 16, 2009)—Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno has agreed to make policy changes and conduct staff trainings to ensure that the rights of its LGBTQ patients and family members are properly respected. The changes are in response to a demand letter by American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights on behalf of a lesbian who was barred from visiting her partner and giving advice about her treatment at the hospital. “We are very...
(San Francisco, California, October 27, 2009) — The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) applauds the passage of California’s SB 54, a bill authored by Senator Mark Leno and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 11, 2009. SB 54 clarifies the rights and responsibilities of same-sex couples who get married outside of California. NCLR worked closely with Equality California and Senator Leno’s office to support the measure throughout the legislative process, from...