other states
March 5, 2008
Marriage Equality Attracts Out-of-State Workforce
Massachusetts has a dubious reputation for losing talented workers to less pricey markets. But a trend that runs counter to the talent drain has emerged in the form of the state's controversial same-sex marriage law, a powerful lure for same-sex couples who want to live in a place where they can get married, gain legal rights and have access to spousal health benefits.February 1, 2008
Oregon Domestic Partnership Law Upheld
A federal judge removed the restraints on Oregon's state domestic partnership law, suspended since January 1, 2008.December 31, 2007
NH Civil Unions at Midnight; OR Domestic Partnership on Hold
As same-sex couples in New Hampshire prepare for that state's civil union law to go into effect at midnight tonight, Oregon couples are not so lucky, as a federal district judge halts that state's domestic partnership law, pending a February hearing.July 23, 2007
WA State Domestic Partnership in Effect
Washington state's domestic partner law went into effect Monday, allowing same and opposite-sex couples to register their relationships and receive some of the state-sanctioned benefits of marriage.June 6, 2007
CA Assembly Passes Marriage Equality Bill
SACRAMENTO—A measure to legalize marriage for gay couples easily passed the California Assembly after a respectful debate Tuesday, in stark contrast to rancorous exchanges on the same issue two years ago. The legislation by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) would...June 1, 2007
NH Gov Signs Civil Unions Bill
CONCORD—New Hampshire became the fourth state to legalize civil unions yesterday, as Gov. John Lynch signed legislation into law saying it was in keeping with the state's anti-discrimination tradition. As more than 100 supporters gathered in the Executive Council chambers...April 26, 2007
NH Senate OKs Civil Unions
A bill authorizing civil unions for gays cleared its last hurdle Thursday in New Hampshire, the first state to embrace same-sex unions without a court order or the threat of one.April 21, 2007
WA State Adds Domestic Partnership Law
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law Saturday a measure to create domestic partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples some of the same rights that come with marriage.April 17, 2007
Oregon Equality Act and DP Act Advance
The Oregon House of Representatives approved in bipartisan votes the Oregon Equality Act (SB 2) and the Oregon Family Fairness Act (HB 2007).September 12, 2006
Tyrone Garner, RIP
One of our own brave fighters, Tyrone Garner, passed away today.August 13, 2006
WA Marriage Advocates Contemplate Appeal
Lawyers for the plaintiffs in the disappointing Washington Supreme Court denial of marriage equality are contemplating filing an appeal of that decision.July 26, 2006
WA Marriage Equality Case Fails
In a contentiously worded, 5-4 decision, Washington State's highest court refused to overturn the state's ban on marriage equality.July 13, 2006
CT Court Rejects Marriage Ban Challenge
A Connecticut state superior court judge ruled today that gay and lesbian couples have not been harmed by the state's decision to legalize same-sex civil unions rather than grant them full marriage rights.March 30, 2006
MA Upholds Out-of-State Marriage Ban
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the 1913 statute that had been used to prevent out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts.September 24, 2005
WA State Wedding Preparations
Washington State marriage equality groups are making preparations in anticipation of that state's high court decision regarding marriage.
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 7, 2005
CA Governor to Veto Marriage Equality
Governor Schwartzenegger, reversing prior statements, has indicated he will veto the marriage equality bill passed by the California Assembly.
September 7, 2005
CA Assembly Sends Marriage Equality Bill to Governor
The California Assembly passed a marriage equality bill yesterday by a narrow majority. The bill, which was previously passed by the Senate, will now go to the Governor's desk for his signature or veto.
September 2, 2005
CA Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill
SACRAMENTO—The California Senate became the first legislative body in the U.S. to voluntarily pass a bill extending equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. AB 849, which would define marriage as being between two persons rather than a man and a...August 29, 2005
MA Marriage Amendment Vote Close
The Massachusets amendment replacing same-sex marriage with civil unions may not pass next month. Meanwhile, other opponents are working on a initiative to ban same-sex marriage and civil union.
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.
July 26, 2005
CA Groups Petition to Ban Marriage, Domestic Partnership
California's attorney general on Monday released a summary of a proposed constitutional amendment that highlights how the measure would strip same-sex couples of most domestic partner rights while also banning gay marriage.
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.
July 4, 2005
Fewer Vermont Civil Unions as Options Increase
The increase of legal options available to same-sex couples has decreased the number of couples registering in Vermont.
July 2, 2005
Fifth Anniversary of Vermont Civil Unions
Five years ago, on July 1, 2000, the Vermont Civil Union act went into effect.
June 29, 2005
CA Supreme Court Upholds DP Law
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday let stand a new law granting registered domestic partners many of the same rights and protections available to married couples.
June 18, 2005
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Civil Union Dissolution
The Iowa Supreme Court today rejected a lawsuit by a group of conservative lawmakers and others to overturn a northwest Iowa district judge's ruling that dissolved a lesbian couple's out-of-state civil union.
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.
June 3, 2005
CA. Marriage Equality Bill Defeated
The California Assembly narrowly defeated a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in the state. The measure lost by a slim four votes in the 80 seat Assembly.
June 2, 2005
VA Woman Appeals Custody Ruling to VT Supreme Court
In a filing in the Vermont Supreme Court, attorneys for a Virginia woman contend that state's law should be followed in a child custody battle arising from a broken civil union in Vermont.
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 27, 2005
Provincetown, Mass. Continues Issuing Out-of-state Licenses
One year into the implementation of the Goodridge decision, Provincetown continues to issue licenses to out-of-state same-sex couples intending to reside in Massachusetts.
May 27, 2005
Mass. Supreme Court Rejects Marriage Challenge
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court again rejected a conservative bid to return marriage inequality Massachusetts.
May 18, 2005
Rhode Island Considering Marriage Equality
The Rhode Island legislature is considering competing bills granting and denying marriage equality to same-sex couples.
May 17, 2005
Mass. Marriage Equality Anniversary
For the nearly 6,200 gay and lesbian couples who got married in Massachusetts since May 17, 2004, the best thing about the last 12 months has been that they still have their marriage licenses — and the rights that go with them.
May 12, 2005
Fed. Court Throws Out Nebraska Marriage Ban
A federal court in Nebraska struck down Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage, saying the measure interfered not only with the rights of gay couples but also with those of foster parents, adopted children and people in a variety of other living arrangements.
May 4, 2005
DC GLBT Couples Can't File Jointly
WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia Tax and Revenue Office ruled Tuesday that same-sex couples married in Massachusetts could not file joint tax returns here, averting a showdown with conservatives in Congress who had said they might review the city's budget if the decision went the other way.
May 2, 2005
Mass. Supreme Court Hears Marriage Challenge
What could be the last gasp of gay marriage foes in Massachusetts was heard by the Supreme Judicial Court on Monday.
April 27, 2005
CA Marriage Equality Passes Key Committe Vote
SACRAMENTO — Legislation to allow same-sex marriage in California passed a key committee Tuesday with religious conservatives vowing to defeat it before it can become law.
April 26, 2005
Conn. Civil Union Bill Online
Here is the Connecticut Civil Union Bill, Public Act No. 05-10, as signed into law....April 25, 2005
Conn. Civil Union Passage Marred by Protests
HARTFORD — About 3,000 protesters gathered at the state Capitol Sunday to denounce lawmakers who voted in favor of legislation last week that made Connecticut the second state to offer civil unions to gay couples.
April 25, 2005
Mass. Supreme Court to Hear Marriage Challenge
BOSTON -- The Supreme Judicial Court which paved the way for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts is preparing to hear a case to have its ruling set aside.
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.
April 21, 2005
CT Governor Signs Civil Union Bill
HARTFORD -- Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell wasted no time Wednesday signing a bill creating civil unions in the state less than an hour after it passed its final hurdle in the legislature.
April 14, 2005
CT House Approves Amended Civil Union Bill
HARTFORD — The Connecticut House of Representatives late Wednesday night passed the civil unions bill, giving same-sex couples many of the rights of marriage.
April 12, 2005
Mass. Legislature Considers Repeal of Non-Resident Marriage Ban
BOSTON — The Massachusetts legislature is considering the repeal of a 1913 law that bars issuing wedding licenses to people whose marriages would be illegal in the states where they reside.
April 7, 2005
CT. House Likely to Pass Civil Union Statute
HARTFORD -- Legislation granting same-sex couples civil unions is expected to encounter little difficulty in the House following yesterday's wide win in the Senate.
April 6, 2005
CT Senate Approves Civil Union Bill
HARTFORD -- The state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would make Connecticut the first state, absent court pressure, to recognize civil unions between same-sex couples.
April 1, 2005
CT Court Won't Anull Massachusetts Marriage
A Connecticut lesbian couple is in a legal catch 22 in an attempt to have the marriage the women had in Massachusetts annulled.
March 29, 2005
New Challenge to CA DP Law
SACRAMENTO -- The California law that provides same-sex couples with many of the same rights as heterosexual married couples is being challenged before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
March 25, 2005
MD Senate Approves Limited DP Protection
ANNAPOLIS -- Maryland Senators gave their approval Friday to a bill that would establish a limited domestic partner registry and give its members the authority to make medical decisions for each other.
March 22, 2005
Conn. Civil Union Bill Advances
HARTFORD — A bill to allow civil unions in Connecticut has passed another key committee in the legislature despite a Hartford Republican's attempt to derail the measure....March 14, 2005
CA Court Ruling Favors Marriage Equality
SAN FRANCISCO — In a victory for city officials here, a state judge ruled on Monday that California's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, overturning a statewide proposition passed in 2000 that defined marriage as between a man and...March 9, 2005
Conn. GOP Pushing Marriage Inequality
HARTFORD, CONN — Connecticut voters would get a chance to cast a ballot on same-sex marriage, under a proposal from the Republican leader of the state Senate....March 2, 2005
Marriage Appeal Goes to Washington Supreme Court
OLYMPIA, WA — The Supreme Court of Washington next week will become the second state high court to take up the issue of same-sex marriage....March 2, 2005
Conn. Gov. Favors Civil Unions, Not Marriage
HARTFORD, CN — Connecticut's Republican governor, M. Jodi Rell, has thrown her support behind civil unions in the state....February 23, 2005
Conn. Civil Union Bill Passes Key Vote
HARTFORD, CN — A bill to allow civil unions in Connecticut passed a key committee in the legislature Wednesday to the anger of LGBT civil rights organizations....February 23, 2005
DP Bill, Marriage Ban Move Forward in NM
SANTA FE, NM — A Senate committee has approved two bills on same-sex relationships: One that would ban gay marriage and another that would allow domestic partnerships....February 23, 2005
Mass. Non-Resident Marriage Ban Challenged
SPRINGFIELD, MA — The Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the Massachusetts law being used to prevent same-sex couples from outside the state from marrying....February 7, 2005
Mass. Voters Unlikely to Endorse Marriage Ban
BOSTON — The Massachusetts legislature will take up the second phase of a proposal to amend the state Constitution to ban gay marriage this year, but a new poll shows most voters want the effort abandoned....January 11, 2005
Iowa Supreme Court to Review Lesbian Divorce
DES MOINES—The Iowa Supreme Court this week will hear a challenge to the granting of a dissolution of a civil union to two lesbians by a lower court judge more than a year ago....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....January 9, 2005
Civil Union Controversy Wanes in Vermont
MONTPELIER, VT - Less than five years ago the idea of gay couples joining in a legal union akin to marriage was enough to rip apart the very social fabric of this small New England state that prides itself...December 21, 2004
CA DP Law Challenged
SAN FRANCISCO — A day before a San Francisco Superior court is to hear a legal challenge to the state's ban on same-sex marriage, a State Appeals Court Tuesday ruled that a lawsuit against California's landmark domestic partnership law...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 29, 2004
US Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Mass. Marriage Challenge
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sidestepped a dispute over gay marriages, rejecting a challenge to the nation's only law sanctioning such unions....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 21, 2004
Mass. Marriage Update: Over 4,200 Couples Say "I Do"
One year after a historic court ruling that legalized gay marriage in Massachusetts, more than 4,266 same-sex unions have occurred in Massachusetts and people on both sides of the issue are preparing for a renewed effort for a constitutional...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 29, 2004
Judge Orders Texas Company to Stop Outing Threats
ST. JOSEPH, MO — A judge has ordered a Texas company to stop sending email masquerading as freedom of information requests to Missouri schools after some administrators were threatened with outing....October 29, 2004
ACLU Files GLBT Teen Bullying Suits
WASHINGTON, DC — The ACLU is battling school districts in two states alleging they are systematically targeting LGBT students for abuse....October 25, 2004
US Attorney General Intervenes in CA Marriage Suit
A couple seeking to overturn government bans on same sex marriages will have to contend with the legal weight of the federal government. The U.S. Department of Justice has asked to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Christopher Hammer...September 29, 2004
VA Court Continues to Ignore VT Custody Jurisdiction
A Frederick County judge Tuesday ruled that the former partner of a lesbian mom had no right to joint custody even though her right as a co-parent had already been determined by a court in Vermont....September 23, 2004
CA Court Upholds Limiting DPA to Same-Sex Couples
A California appeals court has found that it was rational for the state legislature to limit the benefits of domestic partnership to same-sex couples who cannot marry and elderly straight couples who would suffer reduced Social Security benefits if they married.
September 16, 2004
Non-residents Challenge Massachusetts Marriage Ban
An appeal was filed today seeking to overturn a ruling that upheld the state's ban on granting marriage licenses to out-of-state gay couples....September 9, 2004
CA Court Upholds Domestic Partnership Act
A California law granting same-sex couples nearly identical legal rights and responsibilities as married spouses Wednesday was ruled valid....September 8, 2004
VT, VA Custody Dispute Escalates
A Family Court judge found a woman in contempt for going to Virginia and disobeying a court order involving the breakup of her civil union and the custody of a child....September 4, 2004
Second WA State Court Considers Marriage Ban
OLYMPIA — In defending Washington's ban on gay marriage before a judge here yesterday, the state appeared to concede that same-sex couples may be owed some kind of legal recognition....September 1, 2004
WA Supreme Court to Hear Marriage Challenge
King County, Washington is appealing a ruling that same-sex couples should be issued marriage licenses to the state Supreme Court....August 26, 2004
CT Marriage Equality Suit Filed
A gay rights group that won a Massachusetts case legalizing gay marriage announced a similar suit in Connecticut on Wednesday, expanding its mission into a state its lead lawyer declared ripe to confront the issue....August 25, 2004
VA Court in Custody Jurisdiction Fight with VT
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 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....August 18, 2004
Mass. Court Rejects Non-resident Marriage Ban Challenge
A Massachusetts trial judge Wednesday declined immediate relief to eight out-of-state gay and lesbian couples who filed the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a 1913 law which prevents marriage licenses from being issued to couples from outside the state...August 12, 2004
CA Court Invalidates SF Marriages
The California Supreme Court Thursday ruled that San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom exceeded his authority when he allowed same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses earlier this year....August 10, 2004
New DOMA Challenge Filed in Florida
A lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Federal Court in Tampa seeking to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The suit was filed on behalf of a Tampa Bay lesbian couple who married in Canada but whose marriage...June 29, 2004
Fed. Court Rejects Mass. Marriage Appeal
A federal appeals court Tuesday rejected an attempt by conservative groups and state lawmakers to stop gay marriage in Massachusetts....June 19, 2004
GOP Plans Showdown on Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment
The Senate Republican leadership is aiming for a mid-July vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, forcing Democrats to take a stand on the controversial topic just before the party heads to Boston for its presidential...June 18, 2004
Mass. Lawsuit Challenges Non-resident Marriage Ban
Two lawsuits challenging a Massachusetts ban on out-of-state gay marriages were announced Thursday in Boston....June 7, 2004
Liberty Counsel Again Trys to Stop Mass. Marriages
A federal appeals court in Boston Monday was asked to stop same-sex couples from marrying and to rule those marriages already performed to be null and void....May 26, 2004
Provincetown Halts Non-resident Marriages; Others Continue
Provincetown Wednesday put the brakes on issuing marriage licenses to gay couples from outside Massachusetts....May 25, 2004
Mass. Dissident Clerks Halt Out-of-State Weddings
The mayor of Somerville said he may challenge Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly's orders to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples from out of state, although he has temporarily suspended issuing the licenses....May 22, 2004
Mass. A.G. Orders Clerks to Stop Out-of-State Marriages
The attorney general of Massachusetts, Thomas F. Reilly, ordered officials in four communities on Friday to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples from outside the state....May 21, 2004
Mass. Gov. Refers Out-of-State Licenses to A.G.
Governor Mitt Romney yesterday asked the state attorney general to stop municipal clerks from issuing marriage licenses to samesex couples from other states and said Massachusetts would refuse to officially record the licenses of those couples who do not...May 17, 2004
Mass. Gov. Opens New Marriage Attack
The Romney administration has demanded copies of all marriage applications issued to gay couples in Provincetown, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester — four municipalities that openly defied the governor's residency requirement for same-sex marriages....May 14, 2004
US Supreme Court Refuses Marriage Stay
The Supreme Court refused Friday to block the nation's first state-sanctioned gay marriages from taking place in Massachusetts starting next week....May 14, 2004
Federal Appeals Court Rejects Marriage Stay
A federal appeals court on Friday denied a last-minute bid to block legal gay marriages from beginning on Monday, and conservative groups pledged to continue pressing it before the U.S. Supreme Court....May 14, 2004
Federal Court Rejects Massachusetts Marriage Ban
A federal judge Thursday rejected a last-minute bid by conservative groups to block the nation's first state-sanctioned gay marriages from taking place in Massachusetts on Monday....May 13, 2004
No Out-of-State Weddings in Boston
In a move that could thwart out-of-state gay couples who plan to get marriage licenses in Boston City Hall next week, city officials announced yesterday that they will not accept marriage applications from gay couples who live outside Massachusetts...May 13, 2004
Mass. Gov. Creates Temporary Marriage Impediment
BOSTON -- Having failed to prevail in the judicial arena on a profound question of equal rights, Governor Mitt Romney has been reduced to scoring a petty procedural victory over many same-sex couples planning to marry this month.
May 13, 2004
Mass. Governor's Aide Chides Defiant Clerks
BOSTON -- Governor Mitt Romney's top spokesman yesterday equated Provincetown's plans to marry out-of-state gay couples with marrying children, as rhetoric heated up over Romney's threat to take legal action if the town issues marriage licenses to gays who don't plan to live in Massachusetts.
May 12, 2004
Mass. District Court Hears Marriage Arguments
Conservative groups pleaded with a federal judge Wednesday in an 11th-hour bid to stop the nation's first state-sanctioned gay marriages from taking place next week in Massachusetts....May 12, 2004
NJ, WA Next Marriage Battlegrounds
Next week same-sex marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts, but two other states may not be far behind. Lawsuits identical to the case that won marriage in Massachusetts are expected to reach high courts in New Jersey and Washington State...May 11, 2004
Provincetown Will Ignore Out-of-State Marriage Ban
Provincetown's Board of Selectmen voted Monday night to ignore a directive from Gov. Mitt Romney and allow gay couples who reside outside Massachusetts to marry when same-sex marriage becomes legal in the state next Monday....May 10, 2004
Mass. Marriage Challenge in Federal Court
A Catholic political action group has asked the US District Court to prevent same-sex couples in Massachusetts from marrying....May 7, 2004
Mass: SJC Rejects ACLJ Marriage Challenge
The Supreme Judicial Court Friday delivered yet another blow to opponents of same-sex marriage. The court unanimously rejected an appeal by 13 state lawmakers to reverse its landmark ruling legalizing gay marriage....May 5, 2004
Mass. Senate Advances Repeal of Non-Resident Marriage Ban
A group of Massachusetts state senators are backing a bid to repeal a 1913 law that Governor Mitt Romney says prevents out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts....May 3, 2004
Mass. Justice Rejects Marriage Injunction
A petition to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to delay the start of same-sex marriages for two years was rejected Monday by a single justice....April 27, 2004
ACLJ Files Bid to Stop Mass. Marriages
Thirteen Massachusetts lawmakers filed suit with the state's highest court Tuesday claiming it did not have the power to legalize same-sex marriage....April 25, 2004
Massachusetts Governor Bans Non-Resident Marriages
In his latest attempt to stop equal marriage rights, Governor Mitt Romney has issued a directive to Massachusetts town clerks prohibiting them from issuing marriage certificates to out-of-state couples. The move comes as a number of town clerks have...
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