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ACLU Blasts University of Pittsburgh for Attempting to Destroy Anti-Discrimination Protections for Gay People (06/24/2004)
PITTSBURGH - The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced the University of Pittsburgh for asking a Pennsylvania court to strike down all laws in the state against sexual orientation discrimination. The ACLU's statement came as it filed a brief in Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania in a lawsuit related to its litigation against the University of Pittsburgh for equal employment benefits for gay employees.

In Historic Court Victory for ACLU, Honolulu Agrees to Create New Rules Affirming Religious Neutrality and Free Speech (06/23/2004)
HONOLULU--The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i claimed victory today in three First Amendment cases resulting in a historic settlement agreement with the city and county of Honolulu, which ensured that gay rights organizations and other political groups cannot be blocked from participating in city-sponsored events and that taxpayer funds will no longer be used to promote one religion over others.

ACLU Washington Director Asks Democratic Committee To Include Strong Stand for Civil Liberties in Party Platform (06/19/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked the Democratic Party Platform Committee to include strong language in its 2004 platform to protect and promote civil liberties.

Kansas Supreme Court to Hear ACLU Appeal of 17-Year Prison Sentence for Gay Teenager (05/27/2004)
TOPEKA, KS - The Kansas Supreme Court has agreed to consider the American Civil Liberties Union's appeal on behalf of a gay teenager who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for consensual oral sex, the ACLU said today. Matthew Limon has already been in prison for four years and three months - three and a half times longer than the maximum sentence he would have received if he were heterosexual.

Bork Calls Upon Congress to Support Discriminatory Amendment; ACLU and Others Say Measure Undermines American Values (05/13/2004)
WASHINGTON - The House Judiciary Committee today held its third hearing on the Federal Marriage Amendment and supporters of the measure called on Robert Bork, whose nomination as a Supreme Court justice was roundly rejected by the Senate because of his radical viewpoints, to defend the proposed amendment that would, for the first time, write discrimination into the Constitution.

ACLU Criticizes Anti-Gay Comments by New York Governor George Pataki (04/22/2004)
Governor George Pataki was way out of line in his disparaging comments about same-sex marriage, as reported today by Associated Press.

In Final Chapter of San Diego Park Lease Case, Court Rules Against Boy Scouts on All Issues (04/14/2004)
SAN DIEGO -- Addressing the last outstanding issues in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of exclusive preferential leases for the Boy Scouts, a federal district court has found that the lease for the Boy Scouts' free use of aquatic parkland on City-owned Fiesta Island is unconstitutional.

House Begins Examination of Discriminatory Marriage Amendment; Conservative Lawmakers Join ACLU in Criticizing Measure (03/30/2004)
WASHINGTON - Saying that discrimination has no place in the Constitution, the American Civil Liberties Union today strongly urged the House Judiciary Committee to reject the proposed federal marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

ACLU Files Lawsuit in Oregon Seeking Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples (03/24/2004)
PORTLAND, OR - The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit today challenging an Oregon law that discriminates against same-sex couples by denying them marriage and the rights and protections that come with it.

ACLU Calls on Senate to Reject Discriminatory Marriage Amendment (03/23/2004)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing to consider a proposal that would write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution by denying marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples, the American Civil Liberties Union today strongly urged Senators to reject the proposed amendment, saying that such an extreme measure could forever deny important protections to same-sex couples.

ACLU Calls Newest Version of Federal Marriage Amendment 'Bad Politics,' Measure Would Still Write Discrimination Into the Constitution (03/22/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today called a new proposed constitutional amendment on marriage "a desperate political move" that does nothing to address the underlying concerns about the discriminatory measure.

Court Rejects Justice Department's Attempt to Enter San Diego Boy Scout Lease Case (03/17/2004)
SAN DIEGO-- The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties today applauded a ruling that the United States Department of Justice cannot intervene in its challenge to the constitutionality of subsidized leases for the San Diego Boy Scouts.

ACLU Releases Fourth Edition of The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People (03/10/2004)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that it has updated its comprehensive book on gay rights, The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People (Southern Illinois University Press, February 2004). The new edition, which is available at www.aclu.org/store and in bookstores around the country, contains updated information on recent groundbreaking cases including the Supreme Court's decision saying lesbian and gay relationships can no longer be considered criminal and the recent decision by the Massachusetts high court to grant same-sex marriages.

As House Announces Schedule for "Marriage Hearings," ACLU Calls on Congress to Reject Discriminatory Amendment (03/04/2004)
WASHINGTON - Following yesterday's Senate subcommittee hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to deny marriage rights to gays and lesbians, the House Judiciary Committee today announced a schedule for hearings to be held on the same issue. The American Civil Liberties Union urged the Committee to reject the proposed amendment, saying that such an extreme measure could forever deny protections to same-sex couples.

ACLU Calls on Congress to Reject Discriminatory Marriage Amendment As Senate Convenes Hearings on "Marriage Laws" (03/03/2004)
WASHINGTON - With the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee set to hear testimony on the state of marriage laws, the American Civil Liberties Union today said that the hearing served as a guise to push a constitutional amendment that, besides limiting marriage to a man and a woman, could forever deny protections to same-sex couples.

ACLU Asks Kansas Supreme Court to Reconsider 17-Year Prison Sentence of Bisexual Teenager (03/01/2004)
TOPEKA, KS - Arguing that an appeals court erred gravely in upholding a 17-year prison sentence for a bisexual teenager, the American Civil Liberties Union today asked the Kansas Supreme Court to rehear the case of Matthew Limon.

ACLU Calls Bush Support for Marriage Amendment Un-American; Proposal Would Write Discrimination Into the Constitution (02/24/2004)
WASHINGTON - Responding to President Bush's official endorsement this morning of a constitutional amendment to deny marriage rights to same-sex and unmarried couples, the American Civil Liberties Union said that the amendment supported by the White House is much broader than advertised and would not only ban civil unions but could completely deny a broad range of government benefits to unmarried couples, be they gay or straight.

New York to Recognize Same-Sex Couples in Unemployment Insurance (02/11/2004)
NEW YORK- In response to a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the New York State Department of Labor has agreed to policy changes that will recognize same-sex relationships in determining eligibility for unemployment insurance.

Defying U.S. Supreme Court, Kansas Court Upholds 17-Year Prison Sentence of Bisexual Teenager (01/30/2004)
TOPEKA, KS -- The American Civil Liberties Union today deplored a Kansas appeals court ruling that it is constitutional to give a bisexual teenager a sentence 13 times longer than a straight teenager would receive for the same crime.

ACLU of New Jersey Applauds Passage of Landmark Domestic Partnership Legislation (01/08/2004)
NEWARK -- Today the New Jersey Senate joined the New Jersey Assembly in approving domestic partnership legislation that will extend some of the legal rights traditionally given to married people to same-sex couples as well as opposite-sex couples over the age of 62.