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La 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=210#!trpen#videyo#!trpst#/trp-gettext#!trpen#

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Rezilta yon sondaj elektè nasyonal GLAD ak Center for American Progress pibliye jodi a montre yon ogmantasyon nan opozisyon piblik anvè Lwa Defans Maryaj la, oubyen DOMA, kòm yon ka klè diskriminasyon ak sipò pou tretman egal pou koup menm sèks ki marye legalman anba lalwa federal la—menm si moun ki te fè sondaj la jeneralman opoze ak egalite nan maryaj.

Telechaje memo eleksyon an isit la

Gade yon enfografik sou rezilta sondaj la isit la

Sondaj la, ki te fèt pa Goodwin Simon Strategic Research ak Voter Consumer Research, epi ki te pibliye anvan... Windsor epi Perry agiman devan Lakou Siprèm mwa pwochen an, jwenn ke:

Ameriken yo kwè DOMA se diskriminasyon, klè e senp.Swasant-de pousan nan moun ki enskri pou vote yo te dakò ke “se yon diskriminasyon pou gouvènman federal la refize pwoteksyon ak benefis maryaj bay koup menm sèks ki marye legalman.”

Moun ka opoze Seksyon 3 DOMA a san yo pa nesesèman sipòte maryaj moun menm sèks.Yon kantite Ameriken kwè ke DOMA se yon move politik epi ke koup menm sèks yo merite tretman egal nan men gouvènman federal la, menm si yo pa kwè ke eta yo a ta dwe pwolonje dwa maryaj pou koup sa yo.

Li enpòtan pou note ke sipò pou anilasyon DOMA a kounye a pi fò nan mitan moun ki gen koulè pase nan mitan blan yo.Swasant-senk pousan moun nwa ak 61 pousan moun panyòl te di ke yo opoze Seksyon 3 DOMA a, konpare ak yon pousantaj 57 pousan moun blan ki toujou wo. Sa a se yon gwo chanjman parapò ak ane anvan yo, lè sondaj yo te montre ke sipò nwa ak panyòl pou abrogasyon DOMA a te pi ba pase sipò blan yo.

Ameriken yo, ki nan yon gwo majorite, kwè ke koup menm sèks yo pa ta dwe refize benefis ak pwoteksyon federal maryaj la.Plis pase 70 pousan nan moun ki reponn yo kwè tout koup ta dwe gen dwa vizite lopital, benefis pou sivivan si yon mari oswa yon madanm mouri pandan sèvis, epi konje familyal ak medikal.

“Chak jou ki pase, de pli zan pli Ameriken ap aprann kijan DOMA refize pwoteksyon enpòtan nan maryaj epi li manke anpil respè pou koup menm sèks marye atravè peyi a – epi y ap di, 'Sa sifi.' Li pa etonan ke yon majorite nan peyi sa a kounye a kwè ke koup ki renmen, ki angaje nan maryaj legal yo ta dwe trete yon fason ki jis anba lalwa federal la. Li lè pou lalwa nou yo ratrape opinyon piblik la sou abolisyon DOMA a,” te di Mary Bonauto, Direktè Pwojè Dwa Sivil pou Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.

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Lakay » Nasyonal/Federal » Page 57

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 kont Etazini, 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 isit la. 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 Etazini kont Windsor, challenging Section 3 of DOMA, on March 27.

Pou plis enfòmasyon, vizite www.scotusblog.

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The United States Supreme Court has released the briefing schedule for Etazini kont 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 Etazini kont 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 kont Biwo Jesyon Pèsonèl epi Pedersen kont Biwo Jesyon Pèsonèl 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 kont Depatman Sante Piblik la. 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.

La Windsor case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The Perry 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 epi 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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Mizajou: 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 kont Depatman Sante Piblik la, 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 kont 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 kont 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.