American Civil Liberties Union

The LGBT Project fights discrimination and moves public opinion on LGBT rights through the courts, legislatures and public education. >> More About the Project


Meet 10 Couples Contact Us

Freedom Files - Season 2
Ideological Exclusion

ACLU NewsfeedsACLU News Feed
ACLU Blog
ACLU Podcasts

GET BUSY. GET EQUAL.
Relationships banner
LGBT Navigation
Since the first marriage lawsuit for same-sex couples in 1972, the ACLU has been at the forefront of both legal and public education efforts to secure marriage for same-sex couples and win legal recognition for LGBT relationships.

> California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges

> Legal Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Proposition 8, Should It Pass

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Press Releases view all

New Filing in Prop 8 Legal Challenge (01/05/2009)
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Lambda Legal filed a reply brief in the California Supreme Court, the next step in the lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition 8, which passed by a mere 52 percent on November 4.

ACLU Urges Tennessee Appeals Court To Protect Rights Of Lesbian Mom (12/23/2008)
NASHVILLE – In a brief filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging a Tennessee appeals court to remove a ban preventing a divorced mom from having her partner of nine years and her own children stay at her home at the same time. The trial court unconstitutionally imposed the so-called "paramour restriction" on the lesbian couple even though the psychologist who performed the custodial evaluation in the case found the partner to be a positive influence in the children's lives.

California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges (11/19/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO — Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.

California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges (11/19/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO — Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.

ACLU/SC Urges Los Angeles County to Join Effort To Overturn Prop. 8 (11/12/2008)
Catherine Lhamon, the Racial Justice Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, today urged the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to file suit or join an existing lawsuit to overturn Proposition 8. Here is her statement:

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Legal Documents view all

Strauss v. Horton - Reply in Support of Petitioners (01/05/2009)

Chandler v. Barker - Appeals Brief (12/23/2008)

Strauss v. Horton - Attorney General's Answer Brief (12/19/2008)
California Attorney General Edmund "Jerry" Brown's answer brief in response to petition in Strauss v. Horton.

Proposition 8 - Writ Petition, Religious Groups (11/17/2008)
Writ petition filed in California Supreme Court challenging Proposition 8 by the California Council of Churches, United Church of Christ, Progressive Jewish Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and others.

Proposition 8 - Writ Petition, Women's Groups (11/17/2008)
Writ petition challenging Proposition 8 filed with California Supreme Court by Equal Rights Advocates and California Women's Law Center.

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Legislative Documents view all

Letter to the U.S. Senate Urging Support of S. 1328, the Uniting American Families Act (06/11/2007)

Letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Urging Support of H.R. 2221, the Uniting American Families Act (06/11/2007)

Testimony By Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU Washington Office, Before the Democratic Party Platform Committee (06/19/2004)

Statement by MALDEF's Regional Counsel Marisa Demeo Condemning Proposal to Amend the Constitution to Discriminate Against Gay Men and Lesbians (05/14/2004)

Letter to the Senate in Opposition to Anti-Democracy Riders to the DC Appropriations Bill (10/25/2001)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Resources view all

Make Change, Not Lawsuits - Joint Advisory (06/09/2008)

A Brief History of the California Marriage Cases (08/17/2007)

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - About the Plaintiffs (02/05/2007)

Sam Beaumont's Bio (01/25/2006)

Sam Beaumont - A Gay Rancher's Fight to Keep His Home (01/24/2006)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Fact Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage in California: A Practical Guide for Same-Sex Couples (05/15/2008)

Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Questions & Answers (09/18/2007)

Frequently Asked Questions about New Jersey Civil Unions: A Practical Guide for Same-Sex Couples (02/16/2007)

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - Questions & Answers (02/05/2007)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Supreme Court Cases

In re Marriage Cases - Case Profile (03/14/2005)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Court Cases

Strauss v. Horton - Case Profile (11/05/2008)
Challenge to CA Prop 8, which bans marriage for same-sex couples.

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - Case Profile (02/05/2007)

Helgeland v. Wisconsin - Case Profile (04/20/2005)

Click to show/hide issues list
Your Local ACLUcongressional scorecardmultimediaforumspublicationssupport usstorecontact