Gay rights groups, ACLU support federal challenge to California’s ban on gay marriage

October 9th, 2009 New survey shows rising support for civil unionsNEW YORK — An increasing majority of Americans favors allowing same-sex couples to obtain most of the same rights as married straight couples, but only 39 percent support legalization of same-sex marriage, according to a poll released Friday. The Pew Research Center said support for civil unions has risen to 57 percent, up from 54 percent a year ago and 45 percent when the question was first asked by Pew in 2003.

September 16th, 2009 ACLU settles suit over unsanitary immigrant centerLOS ANGELES — Federal immigration officials have settled a lawsuit that claimed suspected illegal immigrants were kept in "barbaric" conditions in a downtown Los Angeles detention center, civil rights groups announced Wednesday. The federal court agreement restricts detainees at the facility to 12 hours at a stretch except under unusual circumstances such as epidemics or natural disasters.

September 14th, 2009 Backers of gay marriage want to repeal federal lawWASHINGTON — Gay marriage supporters are moving to repeal a law that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples, but there's little chance of a vote this year. Repeal legislation to be introduced Tuesday has at least 76 House sponsors.

September 11th, 2009 ACLU sues Pittsburgh over G-20 protest permitsPITTSBURGH — The American Civil Liberties Union is suing Pittsburgh because it says the city is violating the civil rights of people who want to protest the Group of 20 summit. The ACLU sued Friday in federal court on behalf of six groups who say the city has failed to issue them protest permits.

August 8th, 2009 Gay marriage lawyers say no to help from S.F.SAN FRANCISCO — The prominent lawyers leading the fight to legalize gay marriage in California on Friday formally told San Francisco officials and three other groups supportive of same-sex weddings "thanks, but no thanks" for trying to join their federal lawsuit. Attorneys David Boies and Theodore Olson petitioned U.S.

August 1st, 2009 American-Dutch gay couples to wed in AmsterdamAMSTERDAM — The mayor of Amsterdam is officiating at the weddings of five American-Dutch homosexual couples on a boat during the city's Gay Pride festival, in part to challenge the United States to legalize gay marriage. Mayor Job Cohen also performed the first Dutch ceremonies after the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001.

July 23rd, 2009 ACLU fights RI judge's ban on Facebook commentsPROVIDENCE, R.I. — A civil rights watchdog group wants a Rhode Island judge to reverse a gag order banning a woman from commenting on a child custody case on Facebook.

July 9th, 2009 Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage lawBOSTON — Massachusetts has challenged the federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, calling it "discriminatory and overreaching," and supporters say other states could follow suit. The state, the first to legalize gay marriage, sued the U.S.

July 9th, 2009 Gay legal groups want in on Calif court caseSAN FRANCISCO — Three gay-friendly legal groups have asked to be part of a federal lawsuit challenging California's same-sex marriage ban — a request that drew an icy reception from the activists behind the case. After publicly questioning the wisdom of the suit and then submitting papers in support of it, the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights said they want to represent gay community groups in the proceedings.

July 8th, 2009 Mass. is 1st state to sue feds over marriage lawBOSTON — Massachusetts, the first state to legalize gay marriage, sued the U.S. government Wednesday over a federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

June 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama Wednesday extended some benefits for government workers to same-sex partners in a bid to give them greater equality. Obama signed a presidential memorandum that would provide limited health care and financial benefits that are currently denied to gay couples and domestic partners.

June 17th, 2009 Jubilation muted on Calif gay marriage anniversarySAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Abernethy-Deppe vividly remembers the bustling city clerk's office and the happiness of fellow couples a year ago Tuesday when California began granting same-sex marriage licenses. But he and his now-husband, David, say their first anniversary won't be nearly as jubilant.

June 16th, 2009 ACLU: Hospital discriminated against gay coupleFRESNO, Calif. — Civil rights groups are urging a hospital in central California to change its policies after employees briefly barred a lesbian from visiting her partner, who went into seizure at a gay marriage march.

June 13th, 2009 Gays decry Obama's stand on gay marriage caseLOS ANGELES — Gay rights groups expressed dismay with the Obama administration Friday over its championing of the Defense of Marriage Act, a law the president pledged to try to repeal while on the campaign trail. The government filed a motion late Thursday to dismiss the case of Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer, who are challenging the 1996 federal act.

June 12th, 2009 DOJ moves to dismiss first fed gay marriage caseLOS ANGELES — The U.S. Justice Department has moved to dismiss the first gay marriage case filed in federal court, saying it is not the right venue to tackle legal questions raised by a couple already married in California.