Out Spotlight XXVI

This week will focus on the gay rights organization Lambda Legal, aka the folks who brought you the landmark California Supreme Court decision that the state cannot exclude same-sex couples from marrying in CA. Lambda Legal worked on this case for the past 4 years with the help of the ACLU and the NCLR. Incidentally, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who were featured in last week's Out Spotlight, were among the plaintiffs in the case. Here is what the court said,

"In light of the fundamental nature of the substantive rights embodied in the right to marry — and their central importance to an individual's opportunity to live a happy, meaningful and satisfying life as a full member of society — the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all couples, without regard to their sexual orientation."

Lambda Legal was originally conceived in 1971, but it was denied non-profit status on grounds that its activities would be against public policy. That decision was overturned in 1973. Lambda Legal has its main office in New York, but also has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and LA. The group works by litigating test cases that it perceives have a high chance of success to establish pro-queer legal precedents. They work on cases all over the United States and on a broad range of issues that affect the gay community, including- parenting and relationships, employment, housing, the military, public policy, HIV/AIDS, and of course, equal marriage. One of the biggest cases Lambda Legal worked on was Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court case that struck down the Texas sodomy law.

Here is Lambda Legal's statement of what they do-

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

The Official Website of Lambda Legal

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