Greetings and Best Wishes for 2019. In the thirty years that I have been practicing LGBT family law, I have seen so many changes, mostly positive. Last year was full of progress – and challenges. Here are a few highlights. CHALLENGES Today, the biggest legal, and cultural, threat to our families is the balancing of...Read More
Excellent advice from my friend Liz in Florida. https://www.forbes.com/sites/debtfreeguys/2018/07/11/how-to-protect-yourself-in-a-post-marriage-equality-world/#42b41824742f From the article: Tighten your legal protections Marriage equality does grant access to all U.S. citizens to marry, but it doesn’t provide legal protections in every facet of life, including financial and family protections. From Schwartz’s legal background, she says that same-sex couples can’t be too...Read More
Dear Friends and Clients, Immediately after Trump became President, I had many inquiries about the future of LGBTQ rights. Now that a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court is inevitable, I am again being asked what it all means – and what we can do to protect ourselves. Nobody has a crystal ball to...Read More
The backlash is real! Read this article about a GLAAD survey and do everything you can to protect your relationship and your family. “Compared to last year’s survey, significantly more respondents said they would be uncomfortable with a family member, a child’s teacher, or their doctor who was LGBTQ.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/02/05/i-thought-gay-rights-were-safe-now-i-know-i-was-wrong/?utm_term=.abf325a0d3d3&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1Read More
I am so proud of former clients, Harvest and LaDonna, for their willingness to share their story with the Family Equality Council. This is such an important case and their story added a lot to the Masterpiece Cakeshop Amicus Brief. Courtesy of Equality Case Files Read More
The following report below is a good example of the fact that our rights are moving in the right direction, but not without bumps in the road. Like Arkansas judges, Texas judges have broad powers at the trial level. Please be sure to try and resolve issues outside of court – or know about...Read More
The LGBT citizens of our nation are reeling after the presidential election. What does a Trump presidency mean for our community? Will the gains that we have made be undone? During my thirty years as a lawyer and gay rights activist I have seen great progress. By being out and proud, we have introduced ourselves...Read More
The following New York Times article reports on a case decided by the United States Supreme Court concerning the adoption rights of same-sex couples: Supreme Court Restores Visitation Rights to Lesbian Adoptive MotherRead More
Two Austin women were married Thursday morning on a state judge’s orders, igniting celebrations from supporters and condemnation from the state’s Republican leaders, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, who vowed to void the marriage. Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant, together almost 31 years, said their vows before Rabbi Kerry Baker while standing in front of...Read More
Parenthood Denied by the Law After a Same-Sex Couple’s Breakup, a Custody Battle The Marriage Equality Act, which New York State passed in June 2011, allowed Jann Paczkowski to marry her partner, Jamie, with the assurance that “the marriages of same-sex and different-sex couples” would “be treated equally in all respects under the law.” But...Read More
