Recent Articles

Crossing the Line

Stephen J. Hyland
December 24, 2008 14:22

Recently, my husband Richard, and I joined our niece for dinner in Philadelphia. Because we often cross the river from New Jersey into Philadelphia for dinner, to shop, to visit a museum or for business, our niece said to me, Uncle Stephen, why don't you move to Philadelphia? Because, I said,...

NY Birth Certificates to Name Both Same-sex Parents

Stephen J. Hyland
December 12, 2008 14:15

NEW YORK— The New York State Health Department has agreed to allow same-sex married couples to list both parents names on the birth certificates of children born during the marriage. The directive, which conforms with Gov. David Paterson's state-wide order to recognize out-of-state same-sex...

NJ Commission Recomends Marriage Equality

Stephen J. Hyland
December 11, 2008 13:54

TRENTON—The New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission released its final report on December 17, 2008, with a unanimous finding that the State's civil union law fails to meet the Supreme Court's requirement that same-sex couples be afforded treatment equal to that of married couples, and...

CT Becomes Third State With Full Marriage Equality

Stephen J. Hyland
October 10, 2008 20:10

HARTFORD—The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled today that same-sex couples have the right to marry. In the 4-3 ruling, the Court concluded that civil unions does not provide true equality and its imposition imposes a "cognizable harm" on same-sex couples. The state becomes the third to...

Expecting the Unexpected

Stephen J. Hyland
September 25, 2008 19:37

I have been reminded several times in recent months that life is full of unexpected events. First, a client of mine very nearly died during a routine medical procedure. Second, a freak accident resulted in my becoming (temporarily) physically incapacitated. And third, I have witnessed at close...

NY Court Upholds Marriage Recognition Order

Stephen J. Hyland
September 03, 2008 13:19

New York, NY—A New York judge ruled Tuesday that Governor David Paterson (D) did not act illegally when he issued a directive ordering state agencies to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. To recognize same-sex marriages legally solemnized in other jurisdictions is consistent with New...

Majority Support for Marriage Equality in NJ

Stephen J. Hyland
August 20, 2008 20:06

TRENTON, NJ—A majority of New Jersey residents favors marriage equality for same-sex couples over civil unions, according to a poll released Tuesday. The Zogby Poll found an even bigger majority would not be opposed to lawmakers changing the civil union law to marriage equality. The poll,...

CA Marriage Debate Not Completely Settled

Stephen J. Hyland
August 08, 2008 13:33

Over four years ago, the mayor of San Francisco directed the city to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. A month after these initial licenses were issued, the California Supreme Court issued an injunction prohibiting the city from issuing further licenses. One of the first couples...

NY Court to Hear Marriage Recognition Challenge

Stephen J. Hyland
August 06, 2008 14:10

The right-wing Alliance Defense Fund, on behalf of some New York lawmakers, goes to the New York Supreme Court on Thursday to fight Gov. David Paterson's executive order to recognize out-of-state gay unions. The group is citing the definition of the word marriage according to the online edition of...

MA Now Allows Non-residents to Marry

Stephen J. Hyland
August 01, 2008 13:50

BOSTON, MA—Gay and lesbian couples from outside Massachusetts are now free to marry in the state. Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday signed a bill repealing a 1913 law that barred couples from marrying in Massachusetts if their union would not be valid in their own states. Massachusetts has...