California to Proceed With  Marriages as Voter Referendum Looms

Yesterday, the California Supreme Court denied a request to stay its marriage equality decision until after the voter referendum in November. The Court further indicated its historic May 15th ruling would become final on June 16, 2008 at 5:00pm, setting the stage for the Golden State's first post-decision gay and lesbian marriages to be performed later this month.  You can find some frequently asked questions and answers about same-sex marriage in California here.

The National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA) applauds the Supreme Court's pivotal ruling which sends a strong, positive message of equality to all California residents.

Earlier this week, the California Secretary of State certified a voter initiative to appear on the November ballot which would ban same-sex marriage in the state of California and reverse the Supreme Court's landmark decision.   The NLGLA recognizes the somber reality that losing this initiative battle would mean losing one of the great landmark legal decisions protecting our community.  We strongly encourage everyone to get involved.  To learn how, visit:

Equality for All

Equality California

Deadline Extension: NLGLA Student Leadership Awards

The NLGLA Student Leadership Awards are presented to graduating or recently graduated law students who have demonstrated a unique level of commitment to serving the LGBT community throughout their law school careers.  NLGLA will provide registration, lodging and airfare within the 48 contiguous United States for all Student Leadership Award recipients to attend Lavender Law 2008 - San Francisco.

Self nominations are accepted.

DEADLINE:
The deadline for nominations has been extended to June 16, 2008. Nominations should be submitted to Alvin.Lee@nlgla.org.

Students: Register Early for Lavender Law!

With three months to go before the Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference, over 100 law firms and organizations are already set to be recruiters.  To view the complete list of recruiters or to sign up your organization to participate, click here. 

Students especially are encouraged to register early.  Last year, half of the students who attended the conference received full or partial funding from their law school. Be sure to request funding from your school early to ensure you and your classmates can attend Lavender Law 2008 in San Francisco.

The early registration rate for students is only $115 and ends July 31, 2008.

For information and tips on how to secure funding for your group, click here.

To register one or more students for the career fair and conference, please use the following :

Individual Student Self-Registration Form

Multiple Student Registration Form

New York to Recognize Out-Of-State Marriages

Governor David A. Patterson's directive giving all New York state government agencies until June 30th to determine how they will recognize legal out-of-state same sex marriages was issued a full day before the California Supreme Court's In RE Marriages decision.

While the executive order stops short of granting recognition to in-state couples, the Empire State Pride Agenda is urging the New York State Senate to pass a marriage equity bill.  The New York State Assembly has already passed a similar measure.

However, with the governor's deadline still a month away, the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal organization that opposes recognition of same-sex marriages, has already filed a suit to halt Patterson's executive order.

Marriage Equality Setback and Higher Education Milestone in Wisconsin

The Dane County Circuit Court in Wisconsin has ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage in constitutional.  The lawsuit filed by William McConkey, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh,a straight ally and father of seven daughters, including a lesbian, sought to overturn the ban on the grounds that the voter referendum that established it was illegal because it asked two distinct questions: one about marriage and another about benefits.

Circuit Judge Richard Niess, however, sided with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in upholding the legality of the dual-question referendum.  An appeal is expected.

News of the disappointing ruling from the Badger State came the same week as the University of Wisconsin-Madison prepared to become the largest university in the country with an openly gay or lesbian leader.  If approved by the Board of Regents, Biddy Martin, currently the Provost at Cornell University, will certainly not be the first openly gay or lesbian college president of chancellor of a university, but she will be the first to do so for a university as large as UW-Madison (40,000+ students).

Health Insurance Benefits Setback in Michigan

In early May, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the state's referendum redefining marriage as between a man and a woman also prohibited public sector employers from offering health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners.

Although the decision threatens to have a major negative financial impact on the state's economy, to say nothing of the hardship it will impose on LGBT public employees in domestic partnerships, the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders is optimistic that the Michigan ruling will have no impact on the national movement for relationship recognition equality.

To read more about how public sector employers are attempting to sidestep the ruling, click hree.

Philadelphia Boy Scouts Sues City In Order to Preserve Discrimination Policy

The Cradle of Liberty Council, Philadelphia's Boy Scouts of America Chapter has sued the city of brotherly love in federal court in an attempt to stop Mayor Michael Nutter's planned eviction of the group because of their discriminatory policy prohibiting gays and lesbians from becoming members.

The Mayor had previously given the group until May 31st to alter its policy or pay $200,000 per year in rent.  Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the Boy Scouts of America, as a private group, have a first amendment right to determine their membership as they see fit, Philadelphia City Solicitor Shelley Smith says "that doesn't mean they're entitled to use city property for free in the exercise of that right."

For more information on scouting groups that are LGBT inclusive, please visit Scouting for All.

Employment Opportunities

Do you have an employment opportunity you would like included on our online Job Board?  Employers, recruiters and job seekers are encouraged to visit the Job Board section of the NLGLA website where you can post a job description, browse through submitted resumes or apply for one of the openings.

Upcoming Regional Events

Go to http://www.nlgla.org/calendar.html for the full listings.

Questions? Please contact Juan.

State Bar of Washington Diversity Counsel Program - Milwaukee, WI

Friday, June 6 , 2008  9:00am

Italian Conference Center, 601 East Chicago Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202

For more information or to register, click here.

Chicago Bar Association's Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges - Chicago, IL

Friday, June 6 , 2008  9:00am

Chicago Bar Association, 321 South Plymouth Court, Chicago IL 60604

The conference is designed to disseminate information about the practice of law and the legal profession, to create synergies among diverse lawyers, to facilitate the ability of diverse lawyers to share strategies and resources in their quest for equality within the profession and to spotlight the achievements and viewpoints of diverse lawyers in order to inspire others and to demonstrate to the profession that diverse lawyers can excel, given
the opportunity.

Click here to view the full conference brochure.

Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Bar Assn / Boston Bar Luncheon - Boston, MA

Friday, June 6 , 2008  12:00pm

Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, 160 Federal Street, Boston, MA  02110

The Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association's Family Law Division and the Boston Bar Association are co-hosting a luncheon presentation entitled "California's Domestic Partnership & Massachusetts Marriage: Discerning the Common Issues"

For more information or to RSVP, click here.

Lesbian & Gay Lawyers Assn of Los Angeles Summer Party - Los Angeles, CA

Saturday, June 21 , 2008  5:00pm

7582 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Please join the LGLA for its annual Summer Party at the Hollywood Hills home of Thomas Watson and Andrew Klayman.  Thanks to a gracious sponsorship by the law firm of Irell & Manella, LLP, the LGLA is pleased to announce that it will once again be able to provide free admission to law students.  This is the second year in a row that Irell & Manella, LLP has sponsored this event.  Hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.  To RSVP, please visit http://memdir.org/LGLA/members/events.cfm.

The NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project's Fusion Event - New York, NY

Wednesday, June 25 , 2008 6:00pm

53 Christopher Street, New York City, NY 10014

The New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project kicks off pride week with their annual co-ed event at the Stonewall Inn. Open bar from 6-9pm.

To purchase tickets, please call Patti at 212-714-1184, ext. 17

Want to feature your events in the NLGLA newsletter

and in the NLGLA Online Community Event Calendar?

Click here to submit an event.

LGBT Law Student Groups: Become a Member of the NLGLA for Free!

Registering your LGBT Law Student Group as a member of NLGLA is quick, easy, and (best of all) FREE! Ensure your law school's LGBT group stays up to date on NLGLA programs, Lavender Law announcements, and much, much more!

Register your LGBT Law Student Group TODAY!

Questions?  Please contact Juan Garcia at Juan@nlgla.org.

Renew Your NLGLA Membership

In order to keep receiving the exceptional benefits of an NLGLA Membership, be sure to renew yours if it is expiring.  Members can safely pay dues with a credit card through our secure website.

Read all about NLGLA Membership at NLGLA.org

(includes links for becoming a member and renewing dues)