There's no doubt we are still feeling the positive reverberations of June 26th. Since the Supreme Court’s momentous ruling striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex couples across the country are exploring and taking advantage of exciting new options, benefits and responsibilities.
June 26 was already an important date in LGBT legal history—it was the day 10 years ago when the Supreme Court struck down all remaining state sodomy laws in Lambda Legal’s historic Lawrence v. Texas victory.
When DOMA and Prop 8 are struck down, we at Lambda Legal will celebrate this huge victory and important step forward. But as we enter our fifth decade of fighting for equality, we know that our work is far from over.
As this issue of Impact goes to press, we await the outcome of historic votes about marriage for same-sex couples in four states, as we also await word on whether the Supreme Court will consider cases that we hope finally strike down Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Friends and Family throughout the
country are making Pride plans—figuring out what
to wear, which train or whose car to take, whether
to bring the stroller or the dogs, the best vantage
point to enjoy the festivities, where to go afterward
to continue the celebration. The crowds, the energy
and the astonishing diversity and creativity in our
community all bring emotional uplift.
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.
Every year at this time, communities
across the United States celebrate Pride. It’s a happy
time—a time to relax and be ourselves, reconnect
with friends and marvel at the astonishing diversity
within our communities—sometimes mixed with
bittersweet thoughts as we remember the loved
ones we lost.
It Is hard to know what to do
with the knowledge that we are about to reach the
30th anniversary of the Center for Disease Control’s
first report of what would come to be called AIDS.
Every year for two decades, the
National LGBT Bar Association has bestowed
its highest honor, the Dan Bradley Award, on
a member of the LGBT legal community who
has made an outstanding contribution to the
advancement of LGBT rights and those of people
living with HIV.
