FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Contact: Eric Wingerter
(202) 243-9995
Nationwide Phone Briefing Will Discuss the Future of Same-Sex Marriage
Washington—Two of the nation’s top marriage equality litigators will lead a nationwide phone briefing on Tuesday, May 12th, to discuss current and upcoming developments in same sex marriage. The call, hosted by the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association, is free and open to the public.
The discussion will be led by Jennifer Pizer, Senior Counsel and Director of the National Marriage Project at Lambda Legal, and Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.
“There have been so many new developments to state marriage laws in recent months, and every state has approached it in a different way,” explained D’Arcy Kemnitz, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar, “This briefing will be an opportunity for everyone to get the latest from the experts leading the fight.” In April, the Iowa Supreme Court and the Connecticut state legislature legalized marriage between same-sex partners. In early May, Maine voted for same-sex marriage, and a bill in New Hampshire is likely to come up for a vote before summer.
Jennifer Pizer served as co-counsel on the case that established the rights to equality for same-sex couples (In re Marriage Cases), and the subsequent challenge to Proposition 8, Strauss v. Horton. Mary Bonauto served as co-counsel in Baker v. State of Vermont, establishing that Vermont same-sex couples are entitled to all the benefits and protections of civil marriage.
“We’re very excited about the chance to share the accumulated wisdom of two of the brightest luminaries of the LGBT equality movement with our members.” said Kemnitz.
The National LGBT Bar Association’s monthly phone briefings bring together experts in LGBT legal topics and work to expand the movement through education and discussion. The marriage equality briefing will take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 6:30 pm EDT. Interested parties may RSVP at:
http://lgbtbar.org/MarriageUpdate.html
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The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliate lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender legal organizations. The LGBT Bar promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity.