Committed couples.We at the American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. were pleased that in the January 16 issue The Advocate acknowledged the couples who bravely put their lives in the spotlight to fight for the right of same-sex couples to marry in 2006 ["The Plaintiff Couples"]. However, the list of plaintiffs that was published omitted several names. This confusion may have come about because in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Washington, multiple cases were consolidated when they reached those states' highest courts. In New York State four cases were combined: a case brought by the ACLU ACLU: see American Civil Liberties Union. , a case brought by Lambda Legal Lambda Legal (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund) is a United States civil rights organization that focuses on gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. , and two cases brought by individuals in Nyack and Albany. In Washington State two cases were combined: a case brought by the ACLU of Washington and a case brought by Lambda Legal. Although they didn't prevail in court, the couples who stepped up to take part in these cases were extraordinarily brave, and their stories helped many in their states and nationwide understand why treating same-sex couples as legal strangers is unfair and wrong. We applaud and thank them all. JAMES ESSEKS ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender transgender or transgendered adj. Transsexual. Project [To view the full list of plaintiff couples involved in the fight for marriage equality in Washington State, New York State, and New Jersey, go to Advocate.com.--Ed.] |
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