civil rights
July 20, 2007
Gov. Corzine Releases Letter to UPS
TRENTON—Governor Jon S. Corzine today released the below letter to United Parcel Service and urged all companies in New Jersey to provide equal rights and benefits to employees in civil unions.June 25, 2007
Newark School Superintendent Apologizes
The Superintendent apologized for having censored a yearbook photograph of a gay student kissing his boyfriend and offered to provide uncensored copies to any student who asked.June 24, 2007
Newark School District Censors Yearbook Photo
An East Side High School senior's photograph in the school's yearbook was blacked-out on the order of the Newark School Superintendent, Marion A. Bolden, because he was kissing his boyfriend. Similar photos of straight couples were untouched.June 20, 2007
Civil Rights Suit Filed in Ocean Grove Case
TRENTON—The New Jersey Division of Civil Rights announced today that it filed suit against the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association for its failure to allow a lesbian couple to rent the Boardwalk Pavilion for a civil union ceremony. As previously...May 10, 2007
Ocean Grove Civil Union Ban Violates Law
OCEAN GROVE—The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association's policy banning same-sex civil unions at the boardwalk pavilion appears to violate the law and should be reversed, state Public Advocate Ronald Chen said Wednesday. The prohibition has angered some gay and lesbian...January 11, 2007
Gay Cop Wins NJ Bias Suit
A police officer who sued Haledon, New Jersey and several of its officials alleging that he was discriminated against and refused a promotion because he is gay has reportedly received a $450,000 settlement.November 15, 2006
NJ Women Named as Birth Parents
By GEOFF MULVIHILL, A.P. MOUNT LAUREL—In some of the first legal fallout from a state Supreme Court ruling that gives same-sex couples in New Jersey access to the same rights as married couples, two women will be listed on the...October 21, 2006
PA Legislator Introduces GLBT Rights Act
HARRISBURG—Rep. Dan Frankel (D) reintroduced legislation that would prohibit several forms of anti-gay discrimination, including employment, housing and credit. The bill, which is similar to the protection provided by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, previously failed to win support...November 22, 2005
NJ Cop Sues Washington Township
After years of abuse, veteran officer Mike Kurz filed suit against this South Jersey police force for employment discrimination.
September 28, 2005
PA Court Upholds Co-parent Custody
The Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the award of custody of twins to the lesbian ex-partner of the biological mother.
September 16, 2005
NJ Woman Sues State Over Denial of Inheritance Rights
Attorneys from Hill Wallack and Malapero & Prisco, LLP, filed a lawsuit today against the Middlesex County Surrogate and the State of New Jersey on behalf of Betty Jordan, of Perth Amboy, seeking recognition of her right to inherit from her deceased spouse.
September 13, 2005
NJ Supreme Court Among Three Considering Marriage
New Jersey is one of three states (including New York and Washington) in which the highest court will be considering the question of marriage equality.
September 8, 2005
Former Student Alleges Bullying at Holmdel High
A former student at Holmdel High School has filed suit alleging that she was verbally and physically abused because she is a lesbian and that school authorities failed to stop it.
August 28, 2005
Next NJ Governor Will Influence NJ Supreme Court
New Jersey's next governor will have a major influence on the direction of the New Jersey Supreme Court, which will directly affect the rights of the state's GLBT community, among others.
August 17, 2005
VT High Court to Hear Custody Case
Oral arguments in the custody dispute involving a Vermont woman, her former civil union partner now residing in Virginia, and their daughter are scheduled for September 7, 2005 before the Vermont Supreme Court.
August 4, 2005
Supreme Court Nominee Assisted on GLBT Case
Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. worked behind the scenes for gay rights activists, and his legal expertise helped them persuade the Supreme Court to issue a landmark 1996 ruling protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.
July 5, 2005
Oregon Civil Union Bill Unlikely to Pass House
An omnibus LGBT civil rights bill that includes civil unions is likely to receive a vote in the Senate this week but is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled House.
June 23, 2005
NJ Appellate Court Lets Seton Hall Continue GLBTI Discrimination
A student's efforts to establish a gay and lesbian group at Seton Hall University, a Roman Catholic institution, suffered a setback Wednesday when a state appeals court dismissed his lawsuit.
June 16, 2005
MD Custody Restriction Appealed
Maryland's highest court will hear an appeal from a gay father ordered to stop living with his partner while raising his 12-year-old son.
May 31, 2005
CA Supreme Court Hears DP Discrimination Case
A lesbian couple who have been together 11 years left the California Supreme Court on Thursday confident that they may soon share full membership rights at their San Diego country club — rights currently granted only to married couples.
May 2, 2005
Philadelphia Freedom Fest Honors GLBT Pioneers
A Methodist minister, an Episcopal bishop, a Canadian Primer Minister, and a gay pioneer who led one of the first protests were among those honored at Freedom Fest on Sunday.
May 2, 2005
Supreme Court to Hear Anti-Gay Recruiting Challenge
The United States Supreme Court has accepted an appeal of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court ruling invalidating the Solomon Amendment.
April 29, 2005
Lesbian Minister to Be Reinstated
A Philadelphia Methodist minister, Elizabeth Stroud, defrocked last year for openly admitting to living with another woman has won her appeal against the church's decision, the United Methodist Church said on Friday.
April 22, 2005
Microsoft Pulls Support For GLBT Civil Rights
REDMOND — The Microsoft Corporation, at the forefront of corporate gay rights for decades, is coming under fire from gay rights groups, politicians and its own employees for withdrawing its support for a state bill that would have barred discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
March 24, 2005
Delaware House Passes GLBT Civil Rights Bill
DOVER -- A bill adding sexual orientation to Delaware's anti-discrimination protections is again headed to the Senate after clearing the House in a close vote Thursday - just as it did in 2001 and 2003.
January 10, 2005
Supreme Court Lets Florida GLBT Adoption Ban Stand
WASHINGTON, DC — The Supreme Court declined today to hear a challenge to Florida's ban on adoption by gay people, the only such state law in the country....December 8, 2004
Military Sodomy Prohibition Rejected
WASHINGTON, DC — In a case that could have broad implications for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' a military appeals court has overturned the conviction of a soldier for consensual sodomy....December 8, 2004
Virginia Custody Ruling Appealed
RICHMOND, VA — In a case that has attracted national attention because it highlights the starkly different treatment lesbian and gay parents experience across state lines, Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Virginia and Equality Virginia today appealed a case...November 23, 2004
GLBT T-Shirt Battles Continue in Courts and Schools
WEBB CITY, MO — The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit yesterday against a Missouri high school that twice admonished a gay student for wearing T-shirts bearing gay pride messages. The suit charges that the school violated the youth's...November 22, 2004
Custody Battle Pits Vermont Against Virginia
A nasty co-parenting battle being fought out in two states between an estranged lesbian couple is expected to wind up in the US Supreme Court and could include the issue of whether states which do not recognize same-sex relationships...November 15, 2004
NJ Officer Wins Essex Harassment Suit
A former Essex County sheriff's officer who claimed she was harassed on the job because she is a lesbian — and got little relief from her superiors when she complained — was awarded $2.8 million by a Union County...November 11, 2004
GLBT Rights Groups Cautiously Plan Court Battles
Fearful that aggressive action could backfire and generate public hostility, gay rights groups are planning to limit the scope of their legal challenges to the constitutional amendments banning gay marriage that were passed by 11 states last week....November 2, 2004
GLBT Election Defeats "Disheartening"
WASHINGTON — LGBT civil rights groups call Tuesday's election results in which 11 states passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage disheartening but vow they will not be deterred....November 2, 2004
Cincinnati Repeals GLBT Rights Ban
CINCINNATI, OH — While voters across Ohio were joining the electorate in 10 other states in passing constitutional bans on same-sex marriage, Cincinnati was repealing a law that prevents the city from passing any legislation to protect gays and...October 15, 2004
NYC Mayor Blocks GLBT Benefits Law
NEW YORK — New York Mayor Bloomberg is going to court to overturn a law that would force companies doing business with the city to offer benefits to the domestic partners of their employees....October 15, 2004
NJ Governor Attends GLBT Fund Raiser
NEW YORK — New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey on Thursday made his first appearance at a gay event _ a civil rights fund-raising dinner _ since publicly acknowledging he is a gay American....September 23, 2004
Montclair Gay Couple Sues for Property Tax Exemption
MONTCLAIR — A Montclair gay couple is challenging the limits of the state's Domestic Partnership Act by appealing their property taxes to the New Jersey State Tax Court this week....September 12, 2004
NJ Civil Rights Act Signed
Gov. James E. McGreevey signed a bill yesterday enabling New Jerseyans to sue in state court over violations of their civil rights, despite a warning that citizens will be afraid to use it for fear of being forced to...August 25, 2004
VA Court Ignores VT Custody Ruling in Civil Union Dispute
RICHMOND — A Virginia judge on Tuesday claimed jurisdiction to decide a child custody case between two women who had entered into a civil union in Vermont, a move that could set a legal precedent for same-sex couples whose...August 20, 2004
VA Marriage Equality Ban Impacts Right to Contract
Concerns are being raised that a new Virginia law affirming the state's prohibition against same-sex marriage could have widespread impact on contract law in the state....July 22, 2004
House Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment
The Republican-led House voted Thursday to prevent federal courts from ordering states to recognize same-sex marriages sanctioned by other states....June 19, 2004
NJ Senate Passes Enhanced Civil Rights Bill
Legislation that would allow New Jerseyans to sue in state court for any violation of their civil rights passed the Senate yesterday by a 22-12 vote despite warnings it will drive up municipal insurance costs and property taxes....June 19, 2004
US Senate Passes Comprehensive Hate Crimes Bill
Passing the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act today by an overwhelming 65 to 33 bipartisan vote, the U.S. Senate took an important step toward giving law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. The bill...May 27, 2004
NJ Cop Files Gay Bias Suit
A New Jersey police officer has launched a discrimination suit against Haledon, New Jersey and several of its police officials alleging that he was refused a promotion because he is gay....May 26, 2004
Pa. Postpones Anti-Gay Marriage Vote
The state House of Representatives began Wednesday to wade into the national debate over gay marriage, considering a measure that supporters say would bolster a state law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman....February 19, 2004
PA GOP Seeks Sweeping Gay Rights Ban
HARRISBURG—Legislation that gay advocates say would devastate same-sex families will be introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature when it reconvenes next month....
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