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Ideological Exclusion

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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.

> Lesbian and Gay Couples Win Freedom to Marry in California

> Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage in California: A Practical Guide for Same-Sex Couples

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Press Releases view all

LGBT Organizations Urge Couples Marrying in California to "Make Change, Not Lawsuits" (06/10/2008)
NEW YORK - Four LGBT legal organizations and five other leading national LGBT groups have issued a statement entitled "Make Change, Not Lawsuits."

Lesbian and Gay Couples Win Freedom to Marry in California (05/15/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court ruled today that the state can no longer exclude same-sex couples from civil marriage.

MCLU Praises Groundbreaking California Decision on Gay Marriage (05/15/2008)
PORTLAND, ME – The MCLU applauds the decision of the California Supreme Court, which ruled today that the state may no longer exclude same-sex couples from marriage.

H&R Block Tells Gay Couples In Connecticut: “We Don’t Support Connecticut Civil Union Returns” (03/25/2008)
HARTFORD, CT – The American Civil Liberties Union sent a demand letter to H&R Block today demanding that it change its online tax preparation system to accommodate gay couples in Connecticut with civil unions. The ACLU is representing a couple with a civil union who attempted to file their taxes on the company’s website through their online service, TaxCut Online, but were told, “We don’t support Connecticut civil union returns.” Through its website, the company said the couple would have to work with one of their professionals, by phone or at one of their office locations, which would be more time consuming and substantially more expensive.

ACLU Urges Konica Minolta Not to Terminate Domestic Partner Health Insurance of 9/11 Survivor (03/19/2008)
Boise, Idaho – Seeking to maintain health insurance for a 9/11 survivor, the American Civil Liberties Union today sent a demand letter to the New Jersey offices of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (KMBS) urging the company to interpret its policy on domestic partner health insurance so that more employees will have access to the insurance. KMBS currently interprets its policy as requiring employees to re-register as domestic partners with the state every time that they move, even though many states have no way for same-sex partners to do so.

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Legal Documents view all

In re Marriage Cases - Decision, California Supreme Court (05/15/2008)

H&R Block - Demand Letter (03/25/2008)

Konica Minolta - Request for Review of Denial of Domestic Partnership Benefits (03/24/2008)

John Lawson - Demand Letter (03/04/2008)

Helgeland v. Wisconsin - Decision, Supreme Court of Wisconsin (02/07/2008)

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)

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

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Court Cases

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

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

Alaska CLU v. State of Alaska (04/01/2005)
Karen Wood and Terry Tavel are plaintiffs in the ACLU lawsuit to provide government employee benefits to partners of same-sex couples.

Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Case Profile (03/01/2005)

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