Press Releases

(San Francisco, CA, January 12, 2012)—The following is a joint statement from Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, and Freedom to Marry:

(Olympia, WA, February 1, 2012) -- The Washington State Senate this evening approved by a 28-21 vote a bill establishing the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Lambda Legal National Marriage Project Director Camilla Taylor issued the following statement after the State Senate’s historic vote:

(San Francisco, February 7, 2012) – The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the historic August 2010 ruling by now-retired U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker finding Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Lambda Legal’s Legal Director Jon Davidson issued the following statement:

(Trenton, February 13, 2012) -- Today after the New Jersey Senate voted to pass the marriage equality bill, Lambda Legal urged the Assembly to follow their lead and vote in favor of marriage equality in New Jersey.  

(Olympia, WA, February 13, 2012) -- As expected, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire today signed the marriage equality bill passed last week by the Washington state legislature, adding Washington to the growing number of states where same-sex couples may marry.

(Trenton, February 16, 2012) - Today, the New Jersey General Assembly voted to pass the marriage equality bill to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in the state. The New Jersey Senate passed the bill earlier this week. Lambda Legal urges Governor Christie to allow the bill to become law or asks that legislators override his veto, if necessary.  

(Annapolis, February 17, 2012) - Today, the Maryland House voted to pass the marriage equality bill, overcoming a major barrier to same-sex couples being able to marry in the state. Lambda Legal urges the Senate to follow. The Governor is expected to sign the bill once it is passed by both chambers. Lambda Legal Executive Director, Kevin Cathcart, made the following statement: 

(Trenton, February 21, 2012) – In response to the plaintiff’s request for reconsideration, a New Jersey Superior Court today reinstated the federal equal protection claim in Lambda Legal’s case seeking marriage equality on behalf of Garden State Equality and seven same-sex couples and their children harmed by the state’s unequal civil union system.

(San Francisco, February 22, 2012) – U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White today ruled the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, declaring that the discriminatory federal statute violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equality.

(San Francisco, February 24, 2012) - Lawyers representing the majority leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives today filed a notice of appeal of the U.S. District Court's ruling Wednesday declaring a key section of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Tara Borelli issued the following statement: