Lambda Legal

Lambda Legal is defending a lesbian mother's relationship with her 11 year-old son against her ex-partner (the biological mother). The bio-mom claims that an antigay constitutional amendment - passed in November 2004 - invalidates the women's 2001 agreement to share custody of their son.

A year ago Janice Langbehn's partner of nearly 18 years was pronounced brain dead after being stricken with a brain aneurysm. While at Jackson Memorial Hospital - in Miami - she was met with prejudice and apathy. Janice and her family were consistently denied visitation and didn't see her partner, Lisa Pond, until many hours after she was admitted. Lambda Legal has officially sent a notice of intent to sue to the hospital on Janice's behalf.

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.

A 63 page decision issued by the Iowa District Court for Polk County said that same-sex couples must be allowed to marry based on the Iowa Constitution's guarantee of equal treatment under the law.

STORY UPDATE HERE.

The case was filed by Lambda Legal on behalf of six same-sex couples and their families in Iowa. The historic lawsuit is the second important win this summer by Lambda Legal.

The Oklahoma Health Department announced that it will not appeal a ruling earlier this month that struck down a state law refusing Oklahoma birth certificates to children adopted by out-of-state same-sex couples.

Oklahoma's Adoption Invalidation Law was passed in 2004. It said that Oklahoma shall not recognize an adoption by more than one individual of the same sex from any other state or foreign jurisdiction."

Under the law, single gay men and lesbians could become the parent of adoptive children, but same-sex couples were barred from adopting. The law even allowed the state to invalidate adoptions where couples had been awarded joint parenting rights in states where co-adoption is legal.

Self-appointed moralists should end their fight against gay and lesbian parents. The Washington Post explains same-sex parenting is a done deal.