domestic partnership

In most areas of the U.S., it takes the law some time to catch-up to today’s definition of family. As gay and lesbian parents - forming our families - we are cultural pioneers. Most governments have not (or will not) offer security via marriage equality, so it's our responsibility to protect our families.

Lambda Legal - a national GLBT civil rights organization - is celebrating a victory in California. In a major show of support for same-sex couples, the California Supreme Court denied a petition by county assessors seeking review of a California Court of Appeal decision affirming the validity of basic property tax protections for domestic partners. The Court's decision means that the validity of these protections is now secure. No further appeals are possible.

An anti-gay-rights group didn't collect enough valid signatures on a referendum to block Oregon's domestic-partnership law, but it convinced a judge to freeze the legislation which was to take effect January 1.

The law would have given some spousal rights to gay couples.

State elections officials said this fall that the signature effort fell 116 valid signatures short of the 55,179 needed to suspend the law.

Oregon state election officials say opponents failed to turn in enough signatures to block the state's domestic-partnership law for same-sex couples.

Washington's newly passed Domestic Partnership law went into effect July 23, 2007, and couples lined up by the dozens to register their relationships.

The registry offers some legal standing for same-sex and straight couples.

UPS contacted popular Miami Herald journalist and blogger Steve Rothause in response to the Pride @ Work press release posted on his blog the previous day.

UPS tried to explain its position in an email that seems to confuse rather than clarify. NJ.com does a better job explaining the "stymied" company.

A Florida organization, called Florida Red and Blue has raised $1 million to fight a ban on gay marriage. It took only 2 months to raise the significant amount.