Home : Lesbian & Gay Rights

ACLU Applauds Child Custody Award For Surviving Lesbian Mom in West Virginia (06/17/2005)
CHARLESTON, WV -- The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the decision of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals not to separate a five-year-old boy from his lesbian mother following the tragic death of her partner, the child's biological mother.

ACLU Applauds Iowa Supreme Court for Allowing Lower Court to Dissolve Lesbian Couple's Civil Union (06/17/2005)
DES MOINES, IA -- The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Iowa Supreme Court for not interfering with a lower court's ruling dissolving the civil union of a lesbian couple. The court ruled that a group of state legislators and others represented by the Alliance Defense Fund lacked standing to challenge the ruling.

ACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Army Veteran Against Library of Congress for Transgender Discrimination (06/02/2005)
WASHINGTON, DC -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in federal court here today against the Library of Congress on behalf of a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army whose job offer was rescinded after she informed the organization that she was in the process of transitioning from male to female.

ACLU Endorses Federal Hate Crimes Legislation for First Time, Says Conyers Proposal Properly Addresses Free Speech Concerns (05/26/2005)
WASHINGTON - After more than seven years of expressing concerns that federal hate crimes legislation would chill constitutionally protected speech, the American Civil Liberties Union today endorsed a new hate crimes bill introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI).

ACLU Urges New York Appeals Court to End Unfairness Against Gay Couples in Marriage (05/19/2005)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief today in a New York appeals court asking the court to strike down a New York law that bars lesbian and gay couples and their families from the protections of marriage. Religious leaders, civil rights advocates and women's groups also announced their support for marriage for same-sex couples through friend-of-the-court briefs filed this week.

ACLU Launches Marriage Campaign to Move Americans to Treat Families of Same-Sex Couples More Fairly (05/16/2005)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union today announced plans to launch a national Marriage Campaign to persuade Americans that it is unfair to deny legal protections to the families of same-sex couples. The campaign will be led by Michael Mitchell, who comes to the ACLU after serving as the Executive Director of Equality Utah, that state's lesbian and gay advocacy organization.

Federal Court Strikes Down Nebraska's Anti-Gay-Union Law Banning Protections for Same-Sex Couples (05/12/2005)
LINCOLN, NE -- In a ruling issued today, a federal court struck down Nebraska's anti-gay-union constitutional amendment that bans any and all forms of legal recognition for same-sex relationships, including domestic partnerships and other basic protections. The state is expected to appeal the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.

Just in Time for Mother's Day, ACLU Launches Toolkit for LGBT Parents (05/03/2005)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union launched a new online toolkit today designed to provide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents with the information they need to protect their relationships with their children. The toolkit can be found online by clicking the parenting section at www.aclu.org/getequal.

Lesbian Challenges Missouri Policy Barring Gay People from Foster Parenting (05/02/2005)
KANSAS CITY, MO -- A lesbian who has spent her life helping children is challenging a Missouri policy barring lesbian and gay people from serving as foster parents. Lisa Johnston, who is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, brought a challenge to the law in state court after an administrative judge, who found her to be otherwise ""exceptionally"" qualified to foster parent, denied her application solely because she is a lesbian.