News (USA)

Lambda Legal seeks swift ruling to end same-sex marriage ban in Puerto Rico

Lambda Legal seeks swift ruling to end same-sex marriage ban in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Lambda Legal has filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico, seeking a summary judgment to end the U.S. commonwealth’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Source
Source

Lambda Legal joined the lawsuit, Conde v. García Padilla, in June on behalf of five same-sex couples and Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, an organization that represents LGBT Puerto Ricans and their families.

On March 25, 2014, Ada Mercedes Conde Vidal and Ivonne Álvarez Vélez filed the lawsuit to compel Puerto Rico to recognize their marriage, which they entered into in Massachusetts.

Lambda Legal joined the lawsuit on June 25, filing an amended complaint to include four more plaintiff couples, two seeking recognition of marriages entered into in other jurisdictions and two who seek to marry in Puerto Rico, as well as an organizational plaintiff, Puerto Rico Para Tod@s.

Monday’s filing also includes an opposition to a motion to dismiss, filed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Secretary of the Health Department, the Director of the Treasury and the Registrar of Vital Records on August 27, 2014.

Article continues below

“All families deserve to have their love and commitment recognized in Puerto Rico; they need the protections only marriage can provide as soon as possible, without discrimination,” said Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Staff Attorney for Lambda Legal.

“Every day that passes, our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender family members are told they are inferior to our other family members. They are living, working and caring for each other now and need the dignity and respect of marriage,” he said.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Same-sex marriage opponents hold rally at Utah state capitol

Previous article

A letter to the ‘Christian’ grandmother advocating homophobic books for teens

Next article