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Since the first marriage lawsuit for same-sex couples in 1972, the ACLU has been at the forefront of both legal and public education efforts to secure marriage for same-sex couples and win legal recognition for LGBT relationships.

> H&R Block Tells Gay Couples In Connecticut: “We Don’t Support Connecticut Civil Union Returns”

> Learn about the ACLU's work in support of a domestic partnership bill in New Mexico

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Press Releases view all

H&R Block Tells Gay Couples In Connecticut: “We Don’t Support Connecticut Civil Union Returns” (03/25/2008)
HARTFORD, CT – The American Civil Liberties Union sent a demand letter to H&R Block today demanding that it change its online tax preparation system to accommodate gay couples in Connecticut with civil unions. The ACLU is representing a couple with a civil union who attempted to file their taxes on the company’s website through their online service, TaxCut Online, but were told, “We don’t support Connecticut civil union returns.” Through its website, the company said the couple would have to work with one of their professionals, by phone or at one of their office locations, which would be more time consuming and substantially more expensive.

ACLU Urges Konica Minolta Not to Terminate Domestic Partner Health Insurance of 9/11 Survivor (03/19/2008)
Boise, Idaho – Seeking to maintain health insurance for a 9/11 survivor, the American Civil Liberties Union today sent a demand letter to the New Jersey offices of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (KMBS) urging the company to interpret its policy on domestic partner health insurance so that more employees will have access to the insurance. KMBS currently interprets its policy as requiring employees to re-register as domestic partners with the state every time that they move, even though many states have no way for same-sex partners to do so.

Same-sex Couples Ask California Supreme Court to Strike Down Marriage Ban (03/04/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO - Attorneys for same-sex couples presented arguments to the California Supreme Court today in a historic lawsuit seeking to strike down a state law that bars lesbians and gay men from marriage. Fifteen same-sex couples, Equality California, and Our Family Coalition were represented at oral arguments by Shannon Price Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which is serving as co-counsel with Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, Heller Ehrman LLP and the Law Office of David C. Codell.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Says Municipalities Can't Intervene to Fight ACLU Lawsuit Seeking Domestic Partner Health Insurance (02/07/2008)
MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided today that a number of municipalities had no right to interfere in a lawsuit brought by lesbian Wisconsin state employees seeking domestic partner health insurance for their partners from their state employers. The six lesbian couples, who have had to go without adequate health insurance for their families while this issue has been litigated, will now have their chance to prove that it is unconstitutional for the state to bar them from receiving the same compensation as their straight colleagues.

California High Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Historic Marriage Case on March 4 (02/06/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO – The California Supreme Court announced today that it will hear oral arguments on March 4 in the cases challenging the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Legal Documents view all

H&R Block - Demand Letter (03/25/2008)

Konica Minolta - Request for Review of Denial of Domestic Partnership Benefits (03/24/2008)

John Lawson - Demand Letter (03/04/2008)

Helgeland v. Wisconsin - Decision, Supreme Court of Wisconsin (02/07/2008)

H&R Block - TaxCut Online Screen Captures (02/06/2008)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Legislative Documents view all

Letter to the U.S. Senate Urging Support of S. 1328, the Uniting American Families Act (06/11/2007)

Letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Urging Support of H.R. 2221, the Uniting American Families Act (06/11/2007)

Testimony By Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU Washington Office, Before the Democratic Party Platform Committee (06/19/2004)

Statement by MALDEF's Regional Counsel Marisa Demeo Condemning Proposal to Amend the Constitution to Discriminate Against Gay Men and Lesbians (05/14/2004)

Letter to the Senate in Opposition to Anti-Democracy Riders to the DC Appropriations Bill (10/25/2001)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Resources view all

A Brief History of the California Marriage Cases (08/17/2007)

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - About the Plaintiffs (02/05/2007)

Sam Beaumont's Bio (01/25/2006)

Sam Beaumont - A Gay Rancher's Fight to Keep His Home (01/24/2006)

In re Marriage Cases - Amicus Briefs Filed by Organizations and Individuals in Support of Marriage Equality (01/10/2006)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Fact Sheets

Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Questions & Answers (09/18/2007)

Frequently Asked Questions about New Jersey Civil Unions: A Practical Guide for Same-Sex Couples (02/16/2007)

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - Questions & Answers (02/05/2007)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Supreme Court Cases

In re Marriage Cases - Case Profile (03/14/2005)

In re Marriage Cases - Case Profile (03/14/2005)

Lesbian Gay Rights : Relationships : Court Cases

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - Case Profile (02/05/2007)

Helgeland v. Wisconsin - Case Profile (04/20/2005)

Alaska CLU v. State of Alaska (04/01/2005)
Karen Wood and Terry Tavel are plaintiffs in the ACLU lawsuit to provide government employee benefits to partners of same-sex couples.

Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Case Profile (03/01/2005)

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