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Rallies and Events Planned Nationwide on Day of U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Lambda Legal's Historic Case Against Texas Sodomy Law

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Supreme Court Ruling in Landmark Case Expected in June
June 4, 2003

(New York, Wednesday, June 4, 2003) - With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to issue its ruling in Lambda Legal’s case challenging Texas’s “Homosexual Conduct” law as early as Monday, local events around the nation are being planned for the day the decision is announced.

LGBT groups are planning celebrations or protest rallies for the afternoon and evening of the decision, depending on the court’s ruling. Lambda Legal is working closely with community activists to coordinate these events and disseminate up-to-the-minute information on the case and the decision. A ruling could be announced June 9, June 16 or June 23. The court may also add possible decision days later this month.

Lambda Legal asked the court to strike down the Texas sodomy law for two reasons - first, that it is an unconstitutional invasion of privacy; and second, that by singling out gay people, it violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. A victory on either or both claims will affect all 13 remaining sodomy laws in the nation and will be a powerful tool for securing equality for lesbians and gay men in all 50 states, according to Lambda Legal, which is lead counsel in the case.

Following is a partial listing of events planned for the day of a decision in the case:

California
Rally in West Hollywood on the day of the decision, at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevards
(Local organizer contact: Ryan Gierach 323-650-2879 or 213-804-2785)

Georgia
Rally in Atlanta at 6 p.m. on the day of the decision, at 10th and Piedmont
(Local organizer contact: Asha Leong, Lambda Legal, 404-897-1880)

Illinois
Rally in Chicago at 7 p.m. on the day of the decision, at the corner of Halstead and Roscoe
(Local organizer contact: Chicago Anti-Bashing Network 773-878-3697)

New York
Rally in New York City on the night of the decision is at 7 p.m. at Stonewall Park (7th Ave/Christopher St)
(Local organizer contact Queers For Peace And Justice)

South Carolina
Informational meeting in Columbia at 7 p.m. on the day of the decision, at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, 1108 Woodrow
(Local organizer contact: SC Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement, 803-771-7713)

Meeting in Charleston at 7 p.m. on the day of the decision, at the offices of the Alliance for Full Acceptance, 1818 Elsie Drive
(Local organizer contact: AFFA and the Lowcountry Gay and Lesbian Alliance)

Texas
Rally in Dallas at 5:45 p.m. on the day of the decision, at the John Thomas Gay & Lesbian Community Center, 2701 Reagan St.
(Local organizer contact: Roger Wedell, 214-521-6622)

Rally in Houston at 5 p.m. in front of City Hall, 901 Bagby St. in downtown
(Local organizer contact is Mitchell Katine at (713) 981-9595)

Virginia
Press conference in Richmond at 3 p.m. on the day of the decision, at the Bell Tower at the Capitol in Richmond
Local organizer contact: Dyana Mason, Equality Virginia, 804-643-4816)

Washington, D.C.
Rally at 7 p.m. on the day of the decision, at DuPont Circle Park
(Local organizer contact : Jennifer Chapin Harris, Queers For Racial and Economic Justice, 301-277-1854)

In addition, Lambda Legal is working with community leaders planning events in St. Louis, Austin and other communities.

Organizations that want to plan additional events can contact Theresa Jefferson at Lambda Legal (212-809-8585) to receive information packets, flyer templates and other materials. Full background on Lambda Legal’s case challenging the Texas law is online at a special web resource center, www.LambdaLegal.org/MakingHistory.

Contact: Lisa Hardaway, 212-809-8585 ext: 266; pgr: 888-987-1971


 

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