national
March 2, 2006
IRS Warns Same-Sex Couples Not to File Joint Returns
The IRS is warning same-sex couples that they cannot file joint federal tax returns, and attempts to do so can result in penalties and fines.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 13, 2005
DP Benefits Bill Introduced in Congress
Legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday that would allow non-married employees of the federal government to apply for benefits for their long-term partners.June 21, 2005
LGBT Families Immigration Bill Introduced
Uniting American Families Act would extend to same-sex couples the same rights of immigration sponsorship enjoyed by opposite-sex couples
June 16, 2005
Defense of Marriage Act Upheld in CA
A federal judge Thursday rejected an Orange County, California gay couple's bid to challenge the Federal Defense of Marriage Act as a means to get a marriage license.
May 23, 2005
Hate Crimes Bill to Be Reintroduced in Congress
A new attempt to pass legislation to make crimes of bias against members of the LGBT community a federal crime will be introduced in Congress this week.
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 11, 2005
State Laws Create Legal Problems for Same-Sex Couples
NEW YORK — When John Langan's longtime partner died in a New York hospital as a result of what Langan believes was medical malpractice, he did what many bereaved spouses might do: He sued for wrongful death.
April 10, 2005
Marriage Equality Does Not Extend to Taxes
NEW YORK — Married or single? For roughly 5,000 Massachusetts couples this year, deciding how to answer that question is both personally and politically troubling.
January 26, 2005
Right Threatens Bush Over Marriage Ban
WASHINGTON, DC — A coalition of the nation's largest right wing pro-family organizations is reportedly threatening to stall the White House's plans for Social Security reform unless the President becomes more active in the push for a constitutional amendment...January 25, 2005
Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment Reintroduced
Colorado Republican Wayne Allard reintroduced an amendment banning marriage equality in the U.S. Senate.
January 19, 2005
Fed. Court Rejects DOMA Challenge
TALLAHASEE, FL — A federal judge in Florida's central district has dismissed the first major challenge to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In an 18-page decision, Judge James S. Moody ruled that two women with a Massachusetts...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....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 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 3, 2004
Bush Agenda for Second Term: Bad for GLBT Rights
WASHINGTON — As George W. Bush delivered his acceptance speech Wednesday in Washington he seemingly held out an olive branch to Democrats, but elsewhere in the Administration the signs of a second Bush term were far more ominous....November 2, 2004
Three Openly Gay Congress Members Reelected
The three openly gay members of Congress were handily returned to Congress Tuesday night....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
Voters in 11 States Enshrine Marriage Inequality
WASHINGTON — In a major setback for same-sex marriage rights voters in 11 states where constitutional amendments were on the ballot passed the measure....October 31, 2004
Massachusetts Has Lowest Divorce Rate
BOSTON — The state with the lowest divorce rate in the nation is Massachusetts. At latest count it had a divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 population, while the rate for Texas was 4.1....October 22, 2004
Marriage Discrimination Hard on Older Couples
WASHINGTON — One out of every ten same-sex couples has at least one partner over the age of 65 and that is causing concerns about the economic well-being of gay partners....October 8, 2004
GOP Kills Federal Hate Crime Protection
WASHINGTON, DC — The Republican leadership late Thursday killed amendments to federal hate crime laws that would have protected gays and lesbians....August 19, 2004
Fed. Bankruptcy Court Rejects Wash. DOMA Challenge
A federal judge in Tacoma, Washington, in the first challenge to the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, has ruled that the law is not unconstitutional....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...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 24, 2004
More US Companies Offering DP Benefits
A third of the business in the country say they are prepared to provide health benefits to the same-sex partners of gay and lesbian employees. But, when it comes to pension plans they are less willing to recognize same-sex...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 1, 2004
ABA Testifies Against Federal Marriage Amendment
The American Bar Association today called on Congress to reject any constitutional amendment that would restrict the ability of states to establish their own qualifications for civil marriage or to determine the validity of marriages legally performed in other...February 24, 2004
Bush Calls for Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment
President Bush endorsed a constitutional amendment Tuesday that would restrict marriage to two people of the opposite sex but leave open the possibility that states could allow civil unions....February 9, 2004
ABA Opposes Marriage Amendment
SAN ANTONIO - The American Bar Association today adopted a policy opposing any federal encroachment into the right of states to determine the definition of civil marriage and when to recognize a civil marriage entered into under the laws...February 6, 2004
US Senate Majority Leader Will Block Marrage Equality
Senate Majority Leader Frist vowed that the Senate would block any effort to legalize gay marriage.
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