Brett, et al., v. Town of West Hartford

GLAD successfully challenged the discriminatory policy of the Town of West Hartford municipal pool, which sought to exclude same-sex couples and their children from a discounted family membership rate. In November 2002, the West Hartford Town Council approved in a 5 to 4 vote a settlement of the long-standing discrimination complaint by five unmarried couples who claimed the town treated their families unfairly by withholding the preferential “family” membership rate at the facility, known as the Cornerstone Aquatics Center. The newly approved policy ensures that all families and households enjoy an identical rate and allows all children to use the pool for free. In addition, the Town paid a portion of the couples’ attorneys’ fees. The family membership rate had previously been offered only to married couples or to parents. The definition of parents included step-, legal and adoptive parents, but excluded same-sex co-parents or anyone who parents a child with a non-marital partner. For most families, the difference in cost was several hundred dollars.

The case had been pending since November 1998, when it was first filed in the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). Together with attorney Maureen Murphy, GLAD won a ruling from the CHRO that the state’s anti-discrimination laws required the Town to provide equal access and pricing for its pool facility. The case was later removed to the Superior Court where cross-motions for summary judgment were pending.

美国童子军诉怀曼案

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GLAD 致力于阻止美国童子军 (BSA) 因其基于性取向的歧视而获得参与康涅狄格州政府雇员慈善活动的特殊权利。我们早在 2000 年初就参与了此事，当时 GLAD 向康涅狄格州人权与责任委员会 (CHRO) 提交了一份简报，解释称，尽管 BSA 可以与其他团体平等使用公共设施，但他们不得享有任何特殊权利。因此，GLAD 辩称，除非 BSA 像其他所有团体一样，认同非歧视政策才能参与州政府的慈善活动，否则 BSA 没有资格参与。

在很大程度上，基于同性恋者反同性恋联盟（GLAD）的分析，康涅狄格州首席人权官（CHRO）裁定，将黑人同性恋组织（BSA）纳入竞选活动将违反州法律。在被告知无法参与竞选活动后，黑人同性恋组织向联邦法院起诉州审计长。由于被剥夺了作为当事人出庭的权利，GLAD代表我们自己、康涅狄格州妇女教育与法律基金会（CWEALF）以及康涅狄格州LGBT公民权利联盟提交了一份法庭之友陈述，认为将黑人同性恋组织排除在竞选活动之外是合理的。康涅狄格州美国地方法院对此表示同意，裁定该州因黑人同性恋组织反同性恋政策而将其排除在竞选活动之外，并未侵犯其宪法权利。

美国黑人同性恋协会（BSA）向联邦第二巡回上诉法院提起上诉。同性恋者反歧视联盟（GLAD）再次代表我们、康涅狄格州白人同性恋自由联盟（CWEALF）和康涅狄格州联盟提交了一份法庭之友陈述，向上诉法院辩称，康涅狄格州根深蒂固的法律禁止歧视群体使用州立机构。法院驳回了BSA的上诉，确认了GLAD的立场，即只要BSA继续奉行反同性恋政策，州政府就不能给予其特殊权利。美国最高法院拒绝复审此案，维持了下级法院的裁决。

In re Baby Z & An Act Concerning The Best Interest Of Children In Adoption Matters

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GLAD helped win second-parent adoption in Connecticut, through work in the courts and assistance to activists drafting legislation. In April 1998, GLAD filed an amicus brief in the Connecticut Supreme Court in a case known as Baby Z, which raised the question of the availability of second-parent adoption in Connecticut. The Supreme Court ruled that the Connecticut adoption statute could not allow such a procedure, making it necessary to look to the legislature to solve this serious problem. Continuing our advocacy, GLAD worked with Connecticut activists on legislation to redress the problem identified in Baby Z. The Connecticut legislature passed a second-parent adoption bill in 2000.

In re John/Jane Doe

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In November 2000, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) issued a landmark ruling stating that all transgender people are protected by Connecticut’s sex discrimination prohibitions. Citing recent cases protective of transgender people, including two brought by GLAD, the CHRO adopted a reading of Connecticut law to include a broad range of people, writing that “…our intent is to see that justice is done for each individual – transsexual or non-transsexual, male or female, straight or gay, black or white, rich or poor – so as to recognize each person as a unique and valued member of our great human family.” GLAD filed briefs in this case on behalf of itself, The Connecticut Coalition for LGBT Civil Rights, the Connecticut Women’s Educational and Legal Fund, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, FTM International and Gender PAC.