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Since the first marriage lawsuit for same-sex couples in 1972, the ACLU has been at the forefront of both legal and public education efforts to secure marriage for same-sex couples and win legal recognition for LGBT relationships.	> Lesbian and Gay Couples Win Freedom to Marry in California > Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage in California: A Practical Guide for Same-Sex Couples

California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges (11/19/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO — Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.

California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges (11/19/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO — Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.

ACLU Urges Inclusion For All Types Of Families (11/06/2008)
NEW ORLEANS – Today the ACLU of Louisiana urged the newly-appointed Governor's Commission on Marriage and the Family to remain aware of the needs of all of Louisiana's families, regardless of religion, marital status, and including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered status. In an open letter to the Commissioners, the ACLU said: "We urge you to keep in mind that the strength of Louisiana lies in our diversity, and that none of us can make the most personal family choices for another. In the end, every family, no matter how constituted or what it looks like, is just as important and deserves just as much support as every other."

California Will Continue to Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Who Married Before the Possible Passage of
Prop. 8 (11/05/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Attorney General, Equality California, and the nation's leading LGBT legal groups agree that the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June 16, 2008 and the possible passage of Proposition 8 are still valid in the state of California and must continue to be honored by the state.

Legal Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Proposition 8, Should It Pass (11/05/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO – The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a writ petition before the California Supreme Court today urging the court to invalidate Proposition 8 if it passes. The petition charges that Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group – lesbian and gay Californians. Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities. According to the California Constitution, such radical changes to the organizing principles of state government cannot be made by simple majority vote through the initiative process, but instead must, at a minimum, go through the state legislature first.

Strauss v. Horton - Attorney General's Preliminary Response (11/17/2008)
Preliminary response of California Attorney General Edmund G. ("Jerry") Brown Jr. to Writ Petition filed in Strauss v. Horton.

Proposition 8 - Writ Petition, Religious Groups (11/17/2008)
Writ petition filed in California Supreme Court challenging Proposition 8 by the California Council of Churches, United Church of Christ, Progressive Jewish Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and others.

Proposition 8 - Writ Petition, Women's Groups (11/17/2008)
Writ petition challenging Proposition 8 filed with California Supreme Court by Equal Rights Advocates and California Women's Law Center.

Proposition 8 - Writ Petition, Civil Rights Groups (11/14/2008)
Writ petition filed in California Supreme Court challenging Proposition 8 by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, California State Conference of the NAACP, Equal Justice Society, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.

Strauss v. Horton - Amended Writ Petition (11/05/2008)
Amended Writ Petition filed by ACLU, National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal in California Supreme Court challenging Proposition 8.

Letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Urging Support of H.R. 2221, the Uniting American Families Act (06/11/2007)

Letter to the U.S. Senate Urging Support of S. 1328, the Uniting American Families Act (06/11/2007)

Testimony By Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU Washington Office, Before the Democratic Party Platform Committee (06/19/2004)

Statement by MALDEF's Regional Counsel Marisa Demeo Condemning Proposal to Amend the Constitution to Discriminate Against Gay Men and Lesbians (05/14/2004)

Letter to the Senate in Opposition to Anti-Democracy Riders to the DC Appropriations Bill (10/25/2001)

Make Change, Not Lawsuits - Joint Advisory (06/09/2008)

A Brief History of the California Marriage Cases (08/17/2007)

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - About the Plaintiffs (02/05/2007)

Sam Beaumont's Bio (01/25/2006)

Sam Beaumont - A Gay Rancher's Fight to Keep His Home (01/24/2006)

Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage in California: A Practical Guide for Same-Sex Couples (05/15/2008)

Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Questions & Answers (09/18/2007)

Frequently Asked Questions about New Jersey Civil Unions: A Practical Guide for Same-Sex Couples (02/16/2007)

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - Questions & Answers (02/05/2007)

In re Marriage Cases - Case Profile (03/14/2005)

Levitt & Dakota v. New Mexico Retiree Health Authority - Case Profile (02/05/2007)

Helgeland v. Wisconsin - Case Profile (04/20/2005)

Alaska CLU v. State of Alaska (04/01/2005)
Karen Wood and Terry Tavel are plaintiffs in the ACLU lawsuit to provide government employee benefits to partners of same-sex couples.

California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges (11/19/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO — Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.

California Supreme Court Grants Review In Prop 8 Legal Challenges (11/19/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO — Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.

ACLU Urges Inclusion For All Types Of Families (11/06/2008)
NEW ORLEANS – Today the ACLU of Louisiana urged the newly-appointed Governor's Commission on Marriage and the Family to remain aware of the needs of all of Louisiana's families, regardless of religion, marital status, and including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered status. In an open letter to the Commissioners, the ACLU said: "We urge you to keep in mind that the strength of Louisiana lies in our diversity, and that none of us can make the most personal family choices for another. In the end, every family, no matter how constituted or what it looks like, is just as important and deserves just as much support as every other."

California Will Continue to Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Who Married Before the Possible Passage of
Prop. 8 (11/05/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Attorney General, Equality California, and the nation's leading LGBT legal groups agree that the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June 16, 2008 and the possible passage of Proposition 8 are still valid in the state of California and must continue to be honored by the state.

Legal Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Proposition 8, Should It Pass (11/05/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO – The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a writ petition before the California Supreme Court today urging the court to invalidate Proposition 8 if it passes. The petition charges that Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group – lesbian and gay Californians. Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities. According to the California Constitution, such radical changes to the organizing principles of state government cannot be made by simple majority vote through the initiative process, but instead must, at a minimum, go through the state legislature first.