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Judge: Catholic Relief Services liable for gender bias, denial of same-sex benefits
Catholic Relief Services violated federal laws against sex discrimination in employment and pay when the Baltimore-based agency withdrew health insurance coverage from a gay employee’s same-sex spouse, a federal judge ruled last week. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake rejected CRS’ argument that the laws did not apply to its operations because of statutory exemptions […]
Supreme Court takes case involving refusal to serve gay couples
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a new clash involving religion and the rights of LGBT people.
Richard Rombro, former Baltimore judge, dies at 91
Retired Baltimore City Circuit Judge Richard T. Rombro, whose landmark 1998 ruling that Maryland’s anti-sodomy law could not be applied to consensual acts presaged the U.S. Supreme Court’s validation 17 years later of same-sex marriage as constitutionally protected, died Tuesday in Baltimore. He was 91. Rombro said at the time of his decision that it […]
Catholic Relief Services accused of gender bias, denial of same-sex benefits
Catholic Relief Services withdrew health insurance coverage from a gay employee’s spouse despite having told the worker that the Baltimore-based agency’s insurance plan does not discriminate against same-sex marriages, the worker has alleged in a lawsuit filed in federal court. The plaintiff, identified in court papers as “John Doe,” also claimed senior CRS management threatened […]
Activists praise Md. bill to end ‘gay/trans panic’ defense
ANNAPOLIS – Gay rights activists hailed legislation Tuesday that would bar murder defendants from claiming they were provoked to violence after discovering the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity in an effort to reduce their offense to manslaughter, a defense most famously tried by the killers of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in the […]
4th Circuit: U.S. courts closed to job bias claims against Md. agencies
Federal courthouse doors are closed to discrimination claims against Maryland state agencies under the state’s Fair Employment Practices Act, a U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday in dismissing a former prison system budget director’s claim he was fired because he is gay. In its published 3-0 decision, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the […]
Theme park files lawsuit of biblical proportions
Welcome to Tuesday, the 45th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of “The Magic Show.” Here are some news items to get your work week started: — Noah’s Ark theme park sues for rain damage. — Opioid-related lawsuit opens against Johnson & Johnson, a company more famous for baby shampoo. — Illinois Supreme Court rejects constitutional […]
Protesting in Zimbabwe could lead to decades in prison
Hong Kong, Anthony Weiner and jails and the mentally ill round out the roundup.
Remembering Fred Thompson, an attorney who played one on TV
Remembering lawyer-turned-actor Fred Thompson leads news summary that includes gay-rights vote, a rancorous service of process and a legal dispute over home schooling.
Los Angeles considers stricter gun control
Los Angeles gun-control proposal heads news summary that includes a Wall Street lawsuit, gay rights in Asia and child-abuse policy debate in Montgomery County.
Marriage won, gay rights battle moves to religious liberty laws
The U.S. Supreme Court may have written the most consequential words in the history of gay rights with its recognition of same-sex marriage. But those words won’t be the last. While same-sex marriage was already legal in most of the U.S. before Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, 28 states don’t have laws prohibiting discrimination against lesbian, […]
Lesbian sues Kansas City diocese over firing
A parish food pantry worker who was fired over her marriage to another woman sued the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph on Thursday, the latest in a growing number of clashes over gay rights between Roman Catholic leaders and their employees nationwide.
