Author Archives: Lisa Keen

Supreme Court: States must license and recognize licenses of marriages for same-sex couples

In a widely expected yet stunning victory for LGBT people nationally, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today (June 26) that state bans on marriage for same-sex couples are unconstitutional. The decision requires states to both issue marriage licenses to couples

Supreme Court upholds health insurance subsidies critical to people with HIV

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6 to 3 decision, upheld the right of the federal government to provide health care insurance subsidies to people with low income in states that have chosen not to participate in the Affordable Care

If Supreme Court strikes bans, LGBT legal activists ready to fight the pushback

The Supreme Court of the United States will rule any day now on whether it is a violation of the federal constitution for states to bar same-sex couples from marrying. But for weeks now, in apparent anticipation that the court

Abercrombie case: LGBT and evangelicals on the same side

It is a rare occasion when LGBT legal activists find themselves on the same side of a case as the conservative Christian Legal Society and the National Association of Evangelicals. It is also rare to find LGBT legal activists on

Roberts’ questions stole the spotlight; will they steal the show on marriage?

Most legal observers who watched or listened to the oral arguments from April 28 in Obergefell v. Hodges, an appeal seeking to strike down bans on same-sex marriages in four states, focused on the likelihood that Justice Anthony Kennedy will

Supreme Court: Kennedy’s questions offer hope -and worry- for both sides in state marriage ban argument

Though attorneys for same-sex couples tried numerous times to focus attention to the damage that bans on same-sex marriage inflict on the rights of LGBT people, the spotlight during Tuesday's U.S. Supreme Court argument stayed largely on the rights of

2016 presidential race so far: marriage, religion, a gay campaign manager, and Brunei

The 2016 presidential campaign is shaping up to be a particularly exciting and meaningful one for LGBT people. Hillary Clinton enters the race with an openly gay campaign manager. Rand Paul takes a swipe at her over accepting support from

The looming dilemma: A long short list

Renown Supreme Court advocate Ted Olson remembers the first time he had a chance to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court: He didn’t take it. It was a First Amendment case about billboards in San Diego. Olson had

A looming dilemma: Choosing an advocate

Just beyond the February 27 deadline for filing their briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court, the 36 attorneys signed onto briefs to strike down bans on marriage for same-sex couples will face another looming task. They must choose who will

The nagging question looming over the Supreme Court’s announcement on the Sixth Circuit marriage case appeals

There is at least one small nagging question looming over the happy news Friday that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the appeals of same-sex couples challenging laws in four states that refuse to license or recognize their marriages.