Latest News
GLAD Files Motion in Support of Maine Transgender Student Denied Bathroom Access
GLAD has filed a motion for summary judgment in a case in which we are representing a transgender teen girl whose Orono, Maine elementary school denied her use of the girls’ restroom. The motion filed this week in Penobscot County Superior Court in Bangor, Maine, argues that the school’s action…
Advocates Announce Ballot Campaign For Marriage
Photo: boxes of signed petitions supporting the marriage ballot initiative
Augusta – Today, advocates for allowing same-sex couples to legally marry in Maine announced plans for a Citizens Initiative to enact a marriage equality law, delivering more than 105,000 signatures from Maine voters who…
Latest Blog Posts
Important News for Massachusetts Public Retirees
On November 18, 2011 Governor Deval Patrick signed Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2011, “An Act Providing for Pension Reform and Benefit Modernization.” One section of this law allows retirees who retired under Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws on or before May 17, 2004 choosing Option A or B, and then married a person of the same sex on or before May 17, 2005 to change to Option C retroactive to their retirement date. Option C allows for a spouse to continue receiving a monthly retirement income after the retiree dies. This option is also available for the surviving spouse of a retiree provided the conditions above are met. Chapter 32 of the General Laws covers most Massachusetts state, county and municipal employees, including public school teachers.
Advocating for Better MA State Police Conduct
Over two years ago, GLAD began to receive complaints through our Legal InfoLine from gay men who reported that some Boston Police officers were acting very aggressively towards gay men who were just walking through or near the Fens. Officers would approach the men and ask very invasive questions and threaten people with arrest if they did not answer truthfully.
As a result of these complaints, representatives from the Anti-Violence Project, the Violence Recovery Program at Fenway Community Health, the Male Center of AIDS Action Committee, the LGBT liaison from the Mayor’s Office and GLAD began to meet on a regular basis with some of the Boston Police leadership, including the Superintendent, and with the officer who is the liaison to the LGBT community.
Latest Podcast
Analysis of U.S. District Court Ruling Declaring DOMA Sec 3 Unconstitutional
On July 8, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, with respect to claims brought by seven married same-sex couples and three widowers from Massachusetts in GLAD’s lawsuit Gill et al v. Office of Personnel Management et al and with respect to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s challenge on behalf of the Commonwealth.
In this audio segment, GLAD Legal Director Gary Buseck offers some analysis of the rulings.
You can read the decision in Gill here
For more information about the meaning of these two rulings and what is likely to come next, read our FAQ.
Latest Video
Webinar: Representing Transgender Clients in Family Law
Download the PowerPoint Slides
A webinar for family law lawyers and law students.
Presented by the Transgender Rights Project of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and co-sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity; the National LGBT … Read More →