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From the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to the passage of marriage equality in New York, 2011 was another momentous year of progress for LGBT rights and the rights of people with HIV. Here are the biggest events in the state of the law in 2011, according to Lambda Legal—as well as a tipsheet for what to watch for in 2012.

From coast to coast, Lambda Legal fought and won many key victories for LGBT people, people living with HIV, and their families.

New York has enacted legislation providing same-sex couples with equal access to marriage. This document explains how marriage equality may affect same-sex couples and families with low or no income, and provides general information about your legal rights. Please note that this document is not intended to provide legal advice or guidance regarding any specific situation.

In several weeks, the holidays will be upon us, and with it, the prospect of reuniting with loved ones and family. At its best, the word “family” conjures feelings of acceptance and belonging. But for many in our community, “family” continues to be a loaded word.

The REPEAL ("Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal") HIV Discrimination Act, introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, addresses the serious problem of discrimination in the use of criminal and civil commitment laws against those who test positive for HIV.

In collaboration with Lambda Legal and Demos, this special report on the courts appeared in the October 2011 issue of The American Prospect magazine. The report, entitled "Justice for Sale", examines the current threat to a fair and impartial American court system.

In recent years, the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has refused to grant tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status to LGBT community centers with a more than insubstantial amount of activities that appear to be social or recreational in nature. LGBT community centers may therefore wish to exercise caution in the amount of such activities that they undertake.

As of October 1, 2009, the State of Nevada allows two people to register as domestic partners. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about registered domestic partnerships.

When and how to get married in New York.