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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.

Basic Rights Oregon and ACLU Congratulate First Same-Sex Couples Married in Oregon (03/03/2004)
PORTLAND, OR - Today, same-sex couples were married in Portland by former Oregon Supreme Court Justice Betty Roberts following a decision by the Multnomah County Commissioners to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Basic Rights Oregon and the American Civil Liberties Union, which are advising the married couples, applauds the Commissioners for recognizing that the Oregon Constitution prevents them from discriminating against same-sex couples in marriage.

ACLU Congratulates Same-Sex Couples Married by Mayor Today in Upstate New York (02/27/2004)
NEW PALTZ, NY - Mayor Jason West of New Paltz, New York made his village the first town on the East Coast to perform marriages for same-sex couples this morning. The American Civil Liberties Union, which is advising some of the first couples married, cheered his decision to perform the marriages.

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.

ACLU and Gay Rights Groups Praise Court's Decision to Permit San Francisco to Continue Granting Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples (02/18/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - In a tremendous victory for gay and lesbian rights, a San Francisco Superior Court judge issued an order on Tuesday permitting the City of San Francisco to continue issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Since February 12, more than 2,700 same-sex couples have obtained marriage licenses in San Francisco. The court also granted a request to intervene on behalf of five gay and lesbian couples that are represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Lambda Legal, and the ACLU of Northern California (ACLU).

Following ACLU Intervention, Refusal to Print Invites to Same-Sex Wedding Ends With Apology and Agreement Not to Discriminate (02/12/2004)
SEATTLE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today announced an agreement settling a discrimination complaint filed by a gay man against a local business that refused to print invitations to his wedding with his same-sex partner. Under the agreement, the business owner has apologized for her actions and agreed to abide by Seattle's anti-discrimination law in the future.

Lesbian and Gay Couples in San Francisco Are Granted Marriage Licenses (02/12/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO--The City and County of San Francisco today became the first government in the United States to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. City officials followed a directive set in motion by Mayor Gavin Newsom. Advocates heralded the move as the most significant moment in the fight for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.

ACLU Says Federal Marriage Amendment is Constitutional Disaster; Will Obliterate Many Rights for Same-Sex, Unmarried Couples (02/11/2004)
WASHINGTON - Responding to reports this morning that President Bush will soon formally announce support for 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 will not only ban civil unions but could completely deny a broad range of government benefits to unmarried couples, be they gay or straight.

ACLU Cheers Massachusetts High Court Decision Confirming Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (02/04/2004)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed a decision by Massachusetts' highest court confirming that the state cannot deny same-sex couples the right to marry. The Massachusetts state senate had formally asked the court if it would be legal to keep same-sex couples from marrying if it created a system of "civil unions." The court said "no."

ACLU Continues Fight for Domestic Partnership Benefits for Gay Employees of the University of Pittsburgh (01/21/2004)
PITTSBURGH - The American Civil Liberties Union filed notice today that it is appealing a recent decision by a trial judge preventing lesbian and gay employees from going forward with their challenge to the University of Pittsburgh's policy of denying them access to health insurance and other employee benefits for their domestic partners.

Before State of the Union, ACLU Notes Conservative Opposition to Marriage Amendment, Political Unpopularity of Faith-Based Initiative (01/20/2004)
WASHINGTON - Responding to media previews of President Bush's 2004 State of the Union address tonight, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the President to leave the issue of marriage out of the Constitution and noted the lingering lack of popularity in Congress for legislation to permit employment discrimination by taxpayer-funded religious social service providers.

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.

Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction in Lawsuit Challenging California Domestic Partnership Law (12/18/2003)
SACRAMENTO- A Superior Court judge today refused to stand in the way of a new state law that offers same-sex couples legal protections and imposes many responsibilities for their relationships. Judge Thomas M. Cecil denied requests by Senator Pete Knight and Randy Thomasson of Campaign for California Families to issue a preliminary injunction, which would prevent the state from putting the law into effect.

ACLU Decries New Effort to Amend the Constitution, Calls Proposed Marriage Amendment an Affront to Equality and Freedom (11/25/2003)
WASHINGTON - Following on the heels of the Massachusetts State Supreme Court's ruling that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violated due process and equal protection under the state constitution, Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) introduced the Federal Marriage Amendment in the Senate today. The American Civil Liberties Union called the latest attempt to curtail liberties through altering the Constitution ill advised and mean spirited.

ACLU Helps Same-Sex Couples Considering Getting Married in Massachusetts (11/25/2003)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today released a practical guide for same-sex couples considering getting married in Massachusetts. The guide, "Thinking of Getting Married in Massachusetts?" answers basic questions for lesbians and gay men about getting married in Massachusetts, including when the new law will likely into effect, how to get a license, and how the marriage is likely to be received in other states. The guide is available at www.aclu.org/massmarriage.

ACLU Cheers Massachusetts High Court Decision Not to Deny Same-Sex Couples Right to Marry (11/18/2003)
BOSTON -- Ruling under its state constitution, Massachusetts' highest court today issued a landmark decision striking a blow against discrimination and making Massachusetts the first American state to no longer deny couples the right to marry solely because they are the same sex.

ACLU Urges Montana High Court to Require State University System to Offer Domestic Partner Benefits to Gay Employees (11/13/2003)
MISSOULA, MT - The American Civil Liberties Union appeared before the Montana Supreme Court today to ask the court to require the University of Montana System to give lesbian and gay employees the option of purchasing health insurance and other employee benefits for their domestic partners.

ACLU Urges Social Security Administration to Grant Survivor Benefits to Son of Lesbian (10/15/2003)
NEW YORK -- In a case that underscores the need for basic protections for lesbian and gay families, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Social Security Administration to provide survivor benefits to the child of a lesbian mother.

As President Proclaims "Marriage Protection Week," ACLU Calls For Equal Protection for All Americans (10/09/2003)
WASHINGTON - Responding to the President's proclamation of next week as "Marriage Protection Week," which it says is a thinly veiled attempt to plug the Federal Marriage Amendment, the American Civil Liberties Union today called upon President Bush and Congress to reject a constitutional change denying any legal benefits of marriage to unmarried couples and instead work toward ensuring equal legal protections for all Americans.