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The Rights 5 is a campaign to educate Coloradans on the state laws that protect and enrich the lives of LGBT people. Those laws are:

• Employment nondiscrimination
• Housing and public accommodations
• Hate crimes
• Second-parent adoptions
• Designated beneficiaries

The campaign is a public education project of the GLBT Center of Colorado. Learn more about the Center by clicking here.

We chose the five superheroes because they have the unique capacity to enlighten, inspire and protect all Coloradans.

Knowledge is power. And the more people are familiar with these laws the more successful the laws will be at engendering fairness and equality. The right to live in a state that is free from discrimination is a core value that all Coloradans share.

It's also smart business for Colorado. Studies have shown that the most productive employees value open, diverse workplaces where individuals' creativity is encouraged and discrimination of any form is not tolerated. That's why leading companies like IBM, United Airlines, Nike, Disney and Xerox have non-discrimination policies and offer their employees domestic partnership benefits.

Know your own superpowers by becoming familiar with these laws. And spread the word to help unleash the superhero in each of us!

Choosing a lawyer can be a difficult task, so here are a few suggestions to insure to choose a proper one for your legal affairs. The first thing you need to remember is that you do not need a personal lawyer like you need a tax adviser or a family doctor. Lawyers should be chosen for specific tasks such as when selling property, when you are making a will or when starting a business, divorce or separation. Lawyers should be used when you are in a crisis situation such as personal injury has occurred or in a wrongful death situation.

The first step in determining which lawyer you will use: you must determine what the problem is. There are many lawyers in the phone book and each of them may specialize in a different area. Decide what you need a lawyer for, and then choose one. When choosing a lawyer do not look at his or her age, good and bad lawyers come in all ages. Some people will look at what school the lawyer attended; this is not a good suggestion. Many of the top schools have turned out not so good lawyers. In personal matters the issue of small firm versus large firm sometimes comes up, this is really irrelevant.

There are a few things that you should look for in a good lawyer. What really matters when choosing a lawyer is the person. Look for a person that has common sense, someone that knows what they are talking about: you will determine this either on the phone or in your first meeting. A very important factor that you should check for is discretion, is this lawyer discreet in his business. Make sure you obtain references and check them. Make sure the lawyer you have chosen is appropriate for the circumstances. An excellent real estate lawyer could make a very poor divorce lawyer.  

A very important issue in choosing a lawyer is his competence. Is he a good lawyer or bad? At first sight this will be hard to determine, this is where obtaining references comes in. Obtain every reference you can and check them out in detail. While at your first meeting ask questions; make sure he or she has handled the type of case that you need assistance with. Check to see what the results were in his former cases. Did he win or lose. How where the cases handled? Where they handled professionally? These are all valuable questions that will help you get the best lawyer for you case.

All legal relationships should remain on a professional relationship at all times. Lawyers have hefty price tags; it is very advisable to set up a pay-as-you-go agreement, preferably on a monthly or quarterly basis. This way when it comes time to pay, you can ask yourself if you are receiving the best deal for your money. Since all these fees are coming out of your pocket it is very important at all times to deal with your lawyer in a businesslike fashion until you are satisfied with the services.

Guest Author: Joe Cline

Nothing can ruin home ownership more than having a conflict with one of your neighbors. If you’ve ever been unlucky enough to end up in a situation like this, you know that it doesn’t make life easy. Your home should be your castle but if you’re not able to relax you won’t be able to enjoy it. You can start off on the right foot by using the following tips.

1.Be nice but keep your distance

No one wants to be harassed by a nosy neighbor the moment they come home. A friendly hello and wave across the lawn shows that you care without being too intruding into their personal space. As much as you might like to be best friends with whoever is living next door, your neighbor may not want the same thing. Use their response to judge whether or not to take things further.

2.Be respectful of their property especially when it comes to pets

Not everyone is a dog or cat person. If you have pets, it’s very important that you keep your animals off of their lawn. If your animal happens to make a mess on your neighbor’s lawn, be sure to clean it up quickly and try to do better in keeping your pet on your side.

3.Keep your lawn nice

Having the shabbiest lawn on the block is a surefire way to make your neighbors resent you. Poorly kept front lawns can reduce resell value of everyone’s home in the vicinity and it will make you stand out like a sore thumb. Take steps to keep the front of your home in line with everyone else’s. 

4.Respect your neighbors’ privacy

Even though you live next door what happens in your neighbors’ yard and in their home is their business. If you can tell they are having a barbecue, don’t invite yourself over. Don’t ask overly personal questions when it is obvious that you are just casual acquaintances. By respecting their privacy, you can be sure that they’ll respect yours as well.

5.Be sure to thank them if they do a favor for you.

If you notice that your neighbor removed a weed from your flower bed or if they brought over mis-delivered mail, be sure to thank them. These small positive interactions can lead to more friendly communication later on. If they do something big for you, like check your mail or water your plants while you are away, thank them with a gift certificate to a local coffee shop or something similar.

6.Look for opportunities to be helpful  

If your neighbor has done something nice for you, look for opportunity to return the favor. Bring in their paper from the sidewalk or offer to feed their dog if they need someone to. As long as you can be helpful without overstepping the lines of privacy, you should take steps to do so.

Of course, your individual situation with your neighbor may differ, but as long as you follow the spirit of these suggestions you’ll be able to maintain a good relationship with your neighbors.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/being-a-good-neighbor-how-to-avoid-next-door-problems-1224139.html

About the Author: Joe Cline writes articles for Austin Texas real estate blog . Other articles written by the author related to Austin Texas real estate and Lakeway real estate can be found on the net.

Guest Author: Larry Reaves

Car and truck accidents create confusing and chaotic scenes. Knowing what to do at an accident scene can help protect your rights after the accident. Here are some general guidelines to follow at an accident scene
 
Do I Have to Stop?
 
The quick answer is yes. Any driver involved in an accident must stop immediately if a person is injured or killed or if an attended vehicle or other attended property is damaged. As soon as you are in an accident, try to stop as close to the scene of the accident as possible without putting yourself or somebody else in danger (assuming your vehicle is still capable of driving) and activate your emergency lights. As soon as you are sure that you are stopped and out of immediate danger, call the local or state police and report your location, along with any other information they request such as name, address, license number, and vehicle registration number.
 
What Should I Tell the Investigating Police Officer About the Accident?
 
Answer whatever questions the officer asks about the accident as truthfully as possible. Do not try to put any kind of personal spin on the events, however, and do not admit fault. Be sure to give the officer your contact information as they may have questions for you later. Failure to do any of these things can result in your being charged with a felony or misdemeanor later, depending on the circumstances.
 
Should I Take Photographs of the Vehicles and the Accident Scene?
 
If you can physically take photos of the vehicles and the scene without putting yourself in danger than it is certainly advantageous to do so as those photos may be used by a lawyer later if you decide to make a claim against one or more of the other drivers involved in the accident. If your vehicle has sustained substantial damage, make sure to take the photographs before it is repaired or destroyed. Scene photos can also be very important, so try to get any photos of the scene of the accident before debris, skid marks, or the appearance of the scene are changed or cleaned. Again, be safe when taking these photos.
 
What If I Am Injured in the Accident?
 
When the police officer arrives on the scene tell them immediately that you are injured and describe your injuries to them. If emergency vehicles are called, allow them to examine you, and go to the hospital if they recommend it. Even if you do not go to the hospital with emergency personnel, if you feel injured later, have somebody take you to the hospital or your personal doctor as soon after the accident as possible.
 
What If I've hit an Unattended Vehicle?
 
You must make a reasonable effort to find the owner of the vehicle or other property and give this person your name, address, driver's license number, and vehicle registration number. If you cannot find the owner of the vehicle, you are required to leave a note with that information in a place that will easily be found by them at a later date. Even after you have left a note, you are still required to notify local law enforcement of the incident within 24 hours in writing unless injuries you have sustained prevent you from doing so. Failure to do so can also result in charges being filed against you.
 
Do I Need a Lawyer?
 
If you were injured and believe you were not at fault in causing the accident, you may need a personal injury lawyer to investigate and help determine whether or not you have a case of negligence against one or more of the other drivers. If you do, you may want to engage the lawyer to pursue your legal claims against the negligent driver(s). Having an attorney review your case, even if you do not plan on bringing a case against the other driver(s) is a good idea to ensure that you are not putting yourself at a disadvantage.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/what-should-i-do-at-the-scene-of-a-car-accident-1109350.html

About the Author:
Lawrence Reaves is a freelance writer. Allen, Allen, Allen and Allen are  Virginia car accident lawyers  specializing in  personal injury  and medical malpractice lawsuits. They have offices located throughout central Virginia. Contact them online at  http://www.allenandallen.com  or by phone at 1-866-388-1307.

Guest Author: P. Macneil

Guest Author: C. Dyson

Security Number verification report allows you to protect yourself against fraud and identity theft. Validate the legality of a number itself, in addition to confirming it against a given name. The report contains current and previous addresses, other names that have been used in association with the SSN, and any fraudulent use of the SSN fast, effective, affordable! The SSN verification delivers comprehensive information, and a little peace of mind.  

There are many reasons why you might want to verify someone’s Social Security Number or perform a search using a Social Security Number search (also known as SSN Search). Employment verification is one common reason why you may need to do this. Employers need to make sure their employees are who they say they are, and that their Social Security Numbers are correct for payroll and tax reporting purposes.  

Social Security Numbers can also be used to perform credit and criminal background checks which are very valuable for both employers and landlords. Another reason you might want to run a check on a Social Security Number is if you are hiring a child care worker. After all, you want to make absolutely sure the person you hire to care for your child is trustworthy and does not have a criminal background.  

You might also need a person's Social Security number to run a criminal or  background check  on them. The easiest way to get someone's Social Security number for these purposes is simply to ask them for it. This is not always possible, however. If you are unable to find out a person's Social Security number on your own. One way to get someone's SSN is to search public records. It's common for these numbers to appear on court records and other records which are free for the public to view.  

A transfer of an individual’s social security number for the sole purpose of identifying a person about whom a report or database check is ordered, received, or provided is not a sale, lease, loan, trade, or rental of a social security number.  

What's more, local governments have in recent years rushed to put public records online. A wealth of documents -- including marriage and divorce records, property deeds, and military discharge papers -- containing Social Security numbers, dates of birth and other sensitive information is accessible from any computer anywhere. Many of the online records are images of original documents, which also display people's signatures.  

Public records laws were designed to shed the light on government activities, not our personal information," said Kerry Smith, an attorney with Public Interest Research Groups, a coalition of state consumer advocacy organizations. States are "clearly not striking the right balance when they release our Social Security numbers -- the key to our financial identity -- to commercial data brokers and anyone with access to the Internet.  

The Social Security Number plays an unparalleled role in identification, authentication, and tracking of Americans. Because the identifier is used for many purposes, it is valuable to those who wish to acquire credit, commit crimes, or masquerade as another person.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/social-security-number-verification-956905.html

About the Author:
C. Dyson is one of the writers team of several legal resources on the Internet, that help simple people protect themselves, mostly through checking different  public records  that are available on the Internet and offline. Internet is not so anonymous network as most people think, and there is a lot of database online, which many people are unaware of. There is plenty of information about anyone in many online databases.

Guest Author: Melissa Gordon

As your final word to a world which you have left, your will is just about the most important thing you will ever write. You will naturally want to make sure that everyone you care for is provided for, and that disputes are avoided as far as is possible. This can be a very complicated process, as most of us accumulate various family and friends in our time on this earth. Offending someone when you are alive is bad enough, but at least you can apologize and make amends. If you offend them in the making of your will, then they will remember you with some level of animosity for as long as they live...

Guest Author: Melissa Gordon

Every one of us is familiar with trademarks, even if that is not the name by which we know them. As often as not these days, when someone refers to a trademark the words they use are along the lines of "branding" and "logo". The trademark is the recognizable impression, or symbol, of a private enterprise (whether a company or an individual) which identifies them for whom they are, and allows their products to be easily recognizable. Most people will be familiar with the basic concept of a trademark, having seen the letters TM appearing above a logo on a product, or the ® symbol which appears next to a registered trademark.

Guest Author: Evan Langsted

By now everyone should know how stupid it is to drink and drive. Many people were raised on a diet of After School Specials and special guest lecturers at their schools about the dangers and consequences of  driving under the influence. At the time, these types of consequences may have seen abstract, either because the audience was too young to drive or the thought of drinking alcohol had never occurred to them. They knew what  MADD  stood for, but they didn’t know anyone who was a part of it. 

As this audience grew up, alcohol may have become part of their life in some way, either at weekend parties or because they knew someone who was at that party doing the drinking. Some may have even had the tragic unpleasantness of getting caught up in their own personal drama with drinking and driving. Usually the consequences were fatal. While the kids of America were taking in the lesson that drinking and driving leads to death and sorrow, what may have not been a lesson learned is what happens when you don’t die; you simply get pulled over. 

According to the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , the latest national DUI statistics show fewer fatalities in 2007 than in prior years (these are the latest statistics compiled by the NHTSA). On one hand, this could mean that there are fewer people drinking and driving. Or it could mean that more people are stopped before they are involved in an accident by the police. The same states that had the most DUI fatalities in 2006 stayed mostly constant in 2007. Or, perhaps a third reason is that because the consequences have become so harsh in some states that it just is not worth the risk, no matter what.  DUI in Florida  Looking at Florida, for example, a state whose mild weather allows for an increased tourist base and increased traffic, 2007 registered a nearly four percent drop in alcohol-related fatalities. Florida is a state that arrests drivers if their blood alcohol content is .08 or higher. However, there really is not a legal limit for driving under the influence, and you may find yourself arrested for DUI or DWI because you refused to take a test or even register a .02 BAC. 

If you are convicted of DUI in the state of Florida, you will be fined. Though the circumstances will determine the amount, it is at least $250 or as high as $1000 for your first offense. You may also face probation or even jail time for your first offense. Or maybe you’ll just get community service. And then there’s something called "DUI School." These are the mandatory classes you must attend, and pay for, if you are convicted of a DUI. You don’t have to wonder too hard about how heavy the penalties are if you are convicted of a DUI-related accident where someone is killed. 

States, like Florida, are getting tougher on those who drink and drive. Lowering the limit to .08 is one thing. However, there are those whose driver’s license is restricted, or an ignition interlock device is required to start their car and then keep it running. In fact, MADD has said the ignition interlock device has helped decrease the number of drunken drivers on the road by hundreds of thousands. In any event, if you are arrested for DUI, you will need someone who knows about the law and how to keep you from going to prison.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/dui-penalties-and-you-799055.html

About the Author:
If you are in the Gainesville, Florida area, and you are charged with driving under the influence, please contact the experienced DUI attorneys at Avera & Smtih, LLP  for an initial and confidential consultation.

Guest Author: John Mehtam

A recent Court of Appeal decision regarding the Protection from Harassment Act has made it tougher for employees to bring the likes of bullying directors and senior managers to justice. This, however, does not mean that companies should shy away from taking a hard line against bullies in the workplace, particularly those who hold a measure of authority - those in senior or management position, for instance.   

Many Employment Law specialists are now in agreement that the Court of Appeal has in fact made it more difficult for staff to stand a chance of winning a bullying claim with their latest ruling. But, despite this, employees still have plenty of options when it comes to bullying claims, so the ruling does not mean that companies can simply sit back and do nothing in the hope that the issue will disappear into thin air.   

Good legal advice to companies would recommend that it is essential that you investigate and record all complaints and subsequent action thoroughly and interview everyone concerned, otherwise it is the company that could be on the receiving end of a claim, and not the person who is being held responsible.   

A test case two years ago found that an employee could successfully claim bullying under the Protection from Harassment Act if they could prove incidents had happened on at least two occasions. But the Court of Appeal has since ruled that these incidents had to be ‘oppressive and unacceptable, amounting to criminal conduct’, rather than simply ill-tempered or inappropriate.   

Although this can be seen to indicate that the courts are now taking a more robust approach in determining what is harassment in the workplace, there’s no room for complacency if allegations of bullying are made by staff. Complacency could be the difference between quickly disproving any allegations of bullying made by staff and entering into elongated, time-consuming legal battles.   

A good way to do this is to have an anti-bullying policy in place and make sure all staff are aware of it. If allegations of bullying are proved to be true, it could be seen as advisory to take disciplinary action against those involved – whether they are directors or shop-floor staff. If a director is involved, make sure that your investigation is not viewed as a cover up just to protect a fellow member of the board. You must also ensure that the person who is investigating the case is at a sufficiently senior level in the company for their actions to be taken seriously.   

It is also worth paying regular attention to updates and changes in the law, even if it is just by reading the paper and checking a couple of key websites for the most important information, as the law is something which changes on a regular basis. As anybody who has dealt with them knows, legal issues tend to be extremely complex and it is always, therefore, worth seeking legal advice from a reputable company if you are in any doubt as to where you stand in relation to the current Protection from Harassment Act or, indeed, any other acts.    

This article is free to republish provided the authors resource box below remains intact.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/employment-law-can-tackle-the-bully-in-your-workplace-758088.html

About the Author:
John Mehtam is an experienced  Employment Law Solicitor  and specialises in  Employment Law  from Shropshire based Martin Kaye Solicitors.

Guest Author: Robert

Alcohol is actually a drug that has dangerous effects on the human body's central nervous system which effects the way we react when driving.   

When we drive after having a drink the alcohol in our body's effect our brain and can lead to amazingly dangerous side effects, sometimes drivers have passed out at the wheel and even stepping into a car in an intoxicated state is such a risk to other citizens on the road.   

Guest Author: Nicholas Tate

There are solicitors who devote themselves in giving advices on accident compensation claims. They are the ones that should be approached if you were affected by an accident that was not your fault. Most of them are attorneys and lawyers whose expertise is in the area of accident compensation claims.
 
Accident claims may be placed in a particular category based on where the accident happened. It may have taken place in the workplace, at school, on the road and so on. It might also be caused by a defective product, medical negligence or whip lash. These solicitors can give you helpful advice on how you would be able file a claim based on what is required by the law.

Guest Author: James Parrish

Drinking and driving are not the best of friends. Laws against drinking and driving are strict in every state, especially Virginia, in order to prevent accidents and injuries on the road.
 
If you are a resident of Virginia, you should know the DWI laws before you reach for your keys after having consumed alcohol.
 
Here is a glimpse of some of the alcohol-related laws in Virginia, where you can be arrested and charged with DWI/DUI if:

Guest Author: Mark Warner

Guest Author: Helen Cox

The term no win no fee is often used although it is seldom understood. No win no fee is an agreement that is set out by a personal injury lawyer where he agrees to work for you for no fee. Once you sign a no win no fee agreement or a conditional fee agreement as it is also known, your lawyer will not ask for any fees, nor will you have to pay any and on top of this you get to keep 100% of the compensation. You may be left wondering now who actually pays your solicitors fees? Well that's simple the fees that are owed to your solicitor will also be paid by the losing party so everyone is a winner; well expect the losing party of course!

Guest Author: Malcolm Blake

Few subjects arouse so universal or so deep an interest as the study of crime. This interest is due in the main to the adventurous and romantic traits in human nature. Criminal conduct appeals to these human traits because it is regarded as being a spontaneous response to impulse, and even the most prosaic and conventional individual chafes to a certain extent under the restrictions of law and morality. If this interest is not so great as to become morbid, it may have great utility, because crime is both a serious practical problem and an important subject for scientific study. 
 
During the past century the extent to which scientific methods have been applied to the study of human and social phenomena has increased greatly. To be sure, there still is much opposition to the scientific study of these phenomena. Some of this opposition arises from anthropocentric notions with regard to the exalted position of man in the universe. Some of it arises from anti-scientific theological dogmas. Some of it is due to propagandists who are eager to push through certain social reforms, and are therefore unwilling to await the results of careful and cautious scientific investigation. All of this opposition creates a prejudice against attributing human conduct to natural causes. But slowly this opposition is being overcome, and crime will before long be regarded as a purely natural phenomenon. 

Each year we choose our Gay Ghetto Top 10 by cross-analyzing demographics against real estate sales data to discover those especially prized metropolitan areas throughout the USA that are most in vogue with the diverse GLBT community. When the number crunching is over, we usually have 10 distinct winners, individually ranked by virtue of their popularity. But for 2008 we have some unique and special surprises – including three 2-way ties and a 3-way tie. Our top 10 are so outstanding, in other words, that they rate higher than ever.

Guest Author: Jinky Belle Abelardo

As a worker you should be aware of your  rights and obligations as an employee. Otherwise, you may not know that your employer has been violating or has violated your rights in some way. A certain area of law protects employees from unlawful employment practices.

Labor and employment as crucial and significant foundations of every society is given prime importance and protection by the government. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) implements several federal laws in order to preserve the rights of workers and build a strong, dynamic relationship between employers and employees. 

Guest Author: Damey

Guest Author: Leaf Tech

There are many different reasons for one to hire a lawyer. For a divorce, in defence, to sue someone, in order to receive payment due, are all common reasons. Most people will probably be fairly shocked when it comes to the prices lawyers command; the fact is one needs a trained professional in order to negotiate our justice system no matter whether the matter is civil or criminal...

By Guest Autor : Nick Fagan [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Nick_Fagan]

A durable power of attorney form is made to help you plan for unfortunate events such as a serious injury or illness. With a durable power of attorney form you can appoint someone to legally act on your behalf, which is called a "agent" or "attorney-in-fact". On the form you can limit your agent to act on your behalf for a limited or very specific task or event. You could appoint a family member, advisor, or a trustworthy friend or institution like a bank.

A benefit of the international treaties and laws regulating trademark registrations is the flexibility they provide.  In the same vein, it may be hard for a non expert to determine which of the filing alternatives are best suited for their business objectives in terms of timing, likelihood of obtaining trademark registrations, and cost.  I provide below an example of the decisional parameters and process based upon some hypothetical trademarks for a hypothetical product.

Guest Author: Ron Reich, Esq.

Guest Author: David Siegel

Chapter 13 bankruptcy reform is what is truly needed to stem the time of the current foreclosure crisis.  Even if the code were modified for a short period of time, it would give homeowners the opportunity to restructure loans that are subject to or already in foreclosure.  As the law currently stands, a homeowner in Chapter 13 cannot alter the contractual terms of their loan.  A homeowner can repay mortgage arrears over three to five years, however, the post-petition mortgage payment must be made pursuant to the original terms of the contract.  Under several proposals to modify Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a homeowner would be permitted to restructure the loan...

It seems as if every time you turn on the TV news these days, there is some story at least once or twice a week about some new identity theft scam.  Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of this decade and if you have not taken pro-active steps to protect your identify, it is not a matter of "if" it will happen to you, but "when".

First let's review what happens in an identify theft crime.  A thief gets enough of your personal information to be able to open accounts in your name.  It's really as simple as that.  Such information would include items that would normally be used to open a new account somewhere such as your social security number, your driver's license number, and with some accounts, even less information may be required, as surprising as that sounds.  Once the thief has opened the new accounts such as Visa cards, department store cards, even personal loans, the thief gets as much money as he can on those accounts, then disappears into the sunset.  The first time you are aware that your identity has been compromised is when you get a phone call from one or more of the accounts inquiring as to your plans for your very high and very past due balance on an account that you didn't even know you had...

Many consumers in distance trading suffer financial loss or delays in mail order or online shopping -the consumer protection legislation and Distance Trading Regulations, in basic lay terms, are as follows... 

In distant trading mail order companies (including in internet shopping or online shopping) in law do not have to tell you your rights -the entitlement to details exists only if you know your rights and ask ~but it is unlawful also in distance trading for mail order traders expressly or by implication (including orally) to mislead you or to seek to restrict the exercise of your rights in consumer laws. 

Whether you have ordered goods from a catalogue, newspaper or magazine, television or internet advertisement, be they on approval or not, goods such as a jackets or dress or shoes, music CDs,  video cassettes, DVDs or books, whether a one off purchase or periodically by club membership, paid for by cash or on credit, by debit or credit card, in full or in part, there are some consumer rights not commonly known under various consumer laws and mail order schemes which sometimes can save you time, effort, money...  

(New York, July 30, 2007) ---  Following advocacy on behalf of Lambda Legal clients and a letter by Governor Corzine, United Parcel Service has decided to provide benefits to the same-sex civil union partners of its employees in New Jersey.

"We are pleased to see that UPS has decided to do the right thing in the end and provide benefits to the same-sex civil union partners and families of its employees in New Jersey," said David S. Buckel, Marriage Project Director of Lambda Legal and the attorney who represented the UPS employees.

(Denver, August 3, 2007) — In a 35-page decision, a panel of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit rejected the Oklahoma Department of Health's challenge to a lower court decision striking down an Oklahoma law so extreme that it threatened to make children adopted by same-sex couples in other states legal orphans when the families are in Oklahoma.  The ruling is important not only in Oklahoma, but also to families across the United States, including in Seattle and Houston, home to two of the families who joined in the suit.

(Redmond, WA, July 18, 2007)— In response to a demand letter sent by Lambda Legal, the City of Redmond has joined a growing number of Eastside communities, including Bellevue and Newcastle, to offer family benefits to employees with same-sex domestic partners.