Marriage/Partner Recognition

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families deserve the same respect, recognition and protection as all other families. Family recognition and the many rights and protections it provides is essential to the well-being of our families. Same-sex couples, even those legally recognized by their states, are denied the 1,138 federal benefits available to or required of married opposite-sex couples. The denial of those benefits hurts our families.

Notable inroads have been made in the realm of marriage equality. Currently Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., New York and Washington state grant the freedom to marry to same-sex couples. This continues to be a hot-button issue across the nation as more states consider granting this fundamental freedom. Read the Task Force's reaction to the victories in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Washington, D.C., New York, Washington state, and Maryland.

In May 2009 marriage equality proponents were dealt a blow when the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that was approved by a slim majority in November 2008. The measure prohibited same-sex couples from legally marrying in California. Read the Task Force's reaction to the May 26 court ruling.

However, in February 2012, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Prop 8 violated the U.S. constitution. The court said, "Propostion 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California."