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Le Respect for Marriage Coalition, of which GLAD is a member, has launched an unprecedented national advertising campaign today featuring prominent bipartisan leaders – including President Obama, Former Vice President Dick Cheney, Former First Lady Laura Bush, and Former Secretary of Defense Colin Powell – speaking out in support of marriage for gay and lesbian Americans.

The national television, print, and online advertising campaign shares “#Time4Marriage” branding, which is intended to let the public know how to become a part of the discussion online and join the bipartisan majority of Americans who support marriage for all committed couples.

This is the first time in history that LGBT advocacy organizations across America have come together to fund a national ad buy. Against the backdrop of President Obama’s historic comments about marriage rights in his inaugural address, freedom to marry legislation pending in a number of states, and two landmark marriage cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Coalition is working to grow support for marriage rights for same-sex couples across the nation.

The national television ad featuring past and present Administration officials’ statements in support of the freedom to marry is titled “Leadership,” and it will begin airing today on cable, and during networks’ Sunday shows over the coming weeks.

YouTube #!trpst#trp-gettext data-trpgettextoriginal=156#!trpen#vidéo#!trpst#/trp-gettext#!trpen#

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Les résultats d'un sondage national auprès des électeurs, publiés aujourd'hui par GLAD et le Center for American Progress, montrent une augmentation de l'opposition du public à la loi sur la défense du mariage, ou DOMA, en tant que cas clair de discrimination et de soutien à l'égalité de traitement pour les couples de même sexe légalement mariés en vertu de la loi fédérale, même si la personne interrogée est généralement opposée à l'égalité du mariage.

Téléchargez le mémo du sondage ici

Consultez une infographie sur les résultats du sondage ici

Le sondage, réalisé par Goodwin Simon Strategic Research et Voter Consumer Research, et publié avant la Windsor et Poiré Les arguments présentés devant la Cour suprême le mois prochain concluent que :

Les Américains pensent que le DOMA est une discrimination pure et simpleSoixante-deux pour cent des électeurs inscrits ont convenu que « c’est une discrimination de la part du gouvernement fédéral de refuser les protections et les avantages du mariage aux couples de même sexe légalement mariés ».

Les gens peuvent s'opposer à l'article 3 du DOMA sans nécessairement soutenir le mariage homosexuel. Un certain nombre d'Américains pensent que la DOMA est une mauvaise politique et que les couples de même sexe méritent un traitement égal de la part du gouvernement fédéral, même s'ils ne croient pas que leur État devrait étendre les droits du mariage à ces couples.

Il est à noter que le soutien à l’abrogation du DOMA est désormais plus fort parmi les personnes de couleur que parmi les Blancs.Soixante-cinq pour cent des Noirs et 61 % des Hispaniques se sont déclarés opposés à l'article 3 de la DOMA, contre un pourcentage encore élevé de 57 % chez les Blancs. Il s'agit d'un net renversement de tendance par rapport aux années précédentes, où les sondages révélaient que le soutien des Noirs et des Hispaniques à l'abrogation de la DOMA était inférieur à celui des Blancs.

Les Américains sont majoritairement convaincus que les couples de même sexe ne devraient pas être privés des avantages et des protections fédérales du mariage.Plus de 70 % des personnes interrogées estiment que tous les couples devraient avoir des droits de visite à l’hôpital, des prestations de survivant si l’un des conjoints est tué dans l’exercice de ses fonctions, ainsi qu’un congé familial et médical.

« Chaque jour qui passe, de plus en plus d'Américains découvrent comment la DOMA prive le mariage d'importantes protections et constitue un manque de respect envers les couples homosexuels mariés à travers le pays – et ils disent : "Ça suffit". Il n'est pas surprenant qu'une majorité de ce pays estime désormais que les couples aimants et engagés dans un mariage légal doivent être traités équitablement en vertu de la loi fédérale. Il est temps que nos lois s'adaptent à l'opinion publique concernant l'abolition de la DOMA », a déclaré Mary Bonauto, directrice du projet Droits civiques pour Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.

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The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG), the party defending the constitutionality of Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has filed its opening brief in Windsor c. États-Unis, pending at the U.S. Supreme Court. In the brief, BLAG argues that the intent of DOMA is not to exclude anyone from federal benefits but to define what marriage means at the federal level. The brief also makes an argument against applying a higher level of scrutiny in considering the constitutionality of DOMA, saying that “Gays and lesbians are one of the most influential, best-connected, best-funded, and best-organized groups in modern politics, and have attained more legislative victories, political power, and popular favor in less time than virtually any other group in American history.” The brief can be read ici. This brief addresses BLAG’s defense of DOMA only, and does not address the jurisdictional question presented by the Court. For more information visit www.gladlaw.org/doma.

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The Supreme Court has set the dates it will hear oral argument in cases challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8.

The Court will hear argument in Hollingsworth v. Perry – the California marriage or “Prop 8” case on March 26. The Court will hear argument in États-Unis c. Windsor, challenging Section 3 of DOMA, on March 27.

Pour plus d'informations, visitez www.scotusblog.

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The United States Supreme Court has released the briefing schedule for États-Unis c. Windsor, the case the Court will hear this term challenging the constitutionality of Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Briefs on the jurisdictional question are due February 20. Briefs on the merits are due February 22.

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Today, the United States Supreme Court announced that it will hear arguments in États-Unis c. Windsor which challenges the constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The Court also granted a hearing to Hollingsworth v. Perry, the challenge to California’s Proposition 8. Arguments before the Court are likely to take place in March 2013.

“DOMA creates a gay-only exception to federal recognition of state-licensed marriages, and we believe that the federal government should stop discriminating against same-sex couples legally married by their states. We know from working with legally married same-sex couples since 2004 in Massachusetts that DOMA undermines their security in every aspect of life and death,” said Mary L. Bonauto, director of GLAD’s Civil Rights Project.

GLAD’s two DOMA challenges, Gill c. Office of Personnel Management et Pedersen c. Office of Personnel Management were also considered at today’s Supreme Court conference but were not granted certiorari. GLAD filed Gill, the country’s first strategic challenge to DOMA in 2009; and filed Pedersen in 2010. Gill was the first case in which DOMA was found unconstitutional by a federal District Court, and also achieved the first appellate ruling that DOMA is unconstitutional in May 2012.

Of California’s Prop 8 case, Bonauto said, “The ability to commit in marriage to the person you love is profoundly important and should not have been taken away from committed same-sex couples. GLAD has been leading the fight for marriage equality for two decades, including the historic marriage equality breakthroughs in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and we are committed to the success of this case. That the issue will soon be heard by the Supreme Court is a vindication of our work to achieve equal protection under the law for same-sex couples. This day has been long in the making, and we are committed to the success of this case.”

Gill plaintiffs are married couples and widowers from Massachusetts, which became the first marriage equality state after GLAD’s 2003 victory in Goodridge c. Ministère de la Santé publique. Pedersen plaintiffs are married couples and a widower from Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

DOMA denies federal recognition of the lawful marriages of same-sex couples, thereby denying legally married same-sex couples critical federal protections that other married couples receive.

Gill was held by the Court and will most likely be addressed by the Court in June.

Le Windsor case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The Poiré case was brought by the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

For more information about DOMA, visit www.gladlaw.org/doma.

Co-operating counsel in Gill et Pedersen are Jenner & Block LLP (Washington, DC), Foley Hoag LLP (Boston), Sullivan & Worcester LLP (Boston), Horton Shields & Knox (Hartford), and Kator Parks (Washington, D.C.).

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Mise à jour: No news from the Supreme Court today on DOMA, Prop 8 or other LGBT-related matters. The next day we are likely to hear something is Friday, December 7.

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Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders announced today the formation of their Board of Ambassadors – a diverse group of GLAD supporters from around the country who will help GLAD connect to and engage more deeply with a variety of communities and constituents.

The inaugural group consists of 28 individuals and two co-chairs, Liz Monnin-Browder and Rick McCarthy. Rick is a former GLAD Board Chair, and Liz is a former GLAD lawyer.

“One of GLAD’s significant assets has always been the number of stellar former board members, staffers, interns, and volunteers who are out in the world doing important work in a variety of communities,” said McCarthy.

“GLAD does high impact work for the LGBTQ community and has valuable resources that should reach as wide an audience as possible. With this new venture, we can mobilize our diverse networks to further promote GLAD’s mission,” said Monnin-Browder.

The 2012 Board of Ambassadors:

• John Affuso
• John Argos
• Gary Bailey
• Gloria Bailey-Davies
• Linda Bailey-Davies
• Jim Bishop
• Jamal Brown
• Carol Buckheit
• Ed Butler
• Andre Campagna
• Dave Cash
• Emily Douglas
• Peter Epstein
• Barry Field
• Amy Killelea
• Rick McCarthy
• Liz Monnin-Browder
• Rev. Irene Monroe
• Trevor Nardini
• Katherine Patrick
• Pat Peard
• Daniel Redman
• Bishop Gene Robinson
• Bob Ross
• Steve Ryan
• Anne Stanback
• Leonie Walker
• David Wilson

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Equality Forum is honoring Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders’ Civil Rights Project Director, Mary L. Bonauto, as one of their icons for National LGBT History Month. Icons are selected for their significant contributions to LGBT civil rights and as role models in their fields.

“Mary’s skillful litigation has secured landmark rights and protections for the LGBT community over the past two decades,” said Lee Swislow, GLAD’s Executive Director. “We are proud of everything she has accomplished and she truly is a LGBT icon.”

Bonauto was lead counsel in Goodridge c. Ministère de la Santé publique, which resulted in Massachusetts becoming the first state in the nation to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. She is currently leading GLAD’s challenge[s] to the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in two cases primed to be heard by the United States Supreme Court.

“What’s compelling is how bedrock American principles of justice and equality come to life in the stories of real people. I agree with the many who have observed that the history of our constitution is the extension of those protections to those once ignored or excluded,” said Bonauto.

Bonauto is involved in litigation, lobbying and public education throughout New England on a wide variety of issues affecting the lives of LGBT people. She also served as co-counsel in Baker c. Vermont, which challenged the state’s prohibition of same-sex marriage. The landmark 1999 ruling mandated in Vermont the country’s first civil unions with legal benefits similar to marriage. She joined GLAD colleagues and Connecticut co-counsel in litigating Kerrigan v. Dept. of Public Health, which made Connecticut the third state to authorize marriage for same-sex couples.

In 2011, Boston Magazine named Bonauto one of the city’s “50 Most Powerful Women.” She was awarded Yale University’s Brudner prize for her contributions to the LGBT community. She has served as co-chair of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee of the American Bar Association and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Boston Chapter of the American Constitution Society. She is regularly named as a “Superlawyer” in Massachusetts and New England.

There are 31 total icons honored for LGBT history month, and a new icon is announced each day. A complete profile of Mary L. Bonauto will be released on Friday at www.lgbthistorymonth.com.

Equality Forum is a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus and coordinates LGBT History Month.

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BOSTON – AIDS Project Worcester (APW) is honoring Ben Klein, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders’ Senior Attorney and AIDS Law Project Director, with a special Red Ribbon Award for his advocacy and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

“Ben has been at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS legal advocacy movement since he came to GLAD in 1994,” said Lee Swislow, GLAD’s Executive Director. “We are proud of and grateful for the monumental achievements he has made throughout his career.”

Klein was lead counsel in Bragdon c. Abbott, the first HIV discrimination case to be heard by the United States Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 1998 established nationwide protection against discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act for all people with HIV.

In June, Klein reached a successful settlement on behalf of AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region (ASMR) that will enable ASMR to continue their group home without fear of it being taken by tax deed. Klein also won a decision before the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance Board of Appeals in 2001 ensuring equal access to liver transplants for HIV-positive individuals under the Commonwealth’s MassHealth program.

The Outstanding Advocate Red Ribbon Award will be presented to Ben during the 25th Anniversary event on Thursday, October 4, 2012. The theme for the evening is “Looking Forward: A Generation Free of AIDS.” APW is honoring ten individuals, including Kevin Cranston, Director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Infectious Disease.

AIDS Project Worcester is a nonprofit organization in Central, Massachusetts dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic and fostering wellness through service, advocacy, prevention, education, and collaborative initiatives. They empower and enhance the lives of people infected and affected by HIV/ AIDS by fighting stigma and discrimination and through individualized services and best practices in a supportive, multicultural setting.