The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will hear a number of cases related to Equality.

They are reviewing at least one case challenging section 3 of DOMA. All of the cases concern access to rights and responsibilities that are not available to married LGBT couples. This is about our ability to love and care for our partners with dignity.

Some of the specific issues in the DOMA cases:

• federal benefits denied to married couples (joint income tax filing, for example)
• estate marital deduction after the death of a spouse
• lack of federal health benefits for spouses.

If DOMA is found unconstitutional, then it could be the case that any legally married couple will be treated equally by the federal government. The only catch in that scenario: you have to get married in a state that has marriage equality.

You may have to take California off that list for the time being, because marriage equality remains at risk in the state. The Supreme Court is also reviewing a case about Proposition 8.

Ohioans may not experience a dramatic impact, other than potential federal recognition if they were married out of state. Still, the Supreme Court looking at LGBT issues benefits the movement towards equality.

First of its kind nationwide evaluation of LGBT inclusion in municipal law and policy finds cities need to do more to protect LGBT employees and citizens

WASHINGTON—A new report on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality in America’s cities by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, rated 137 cities across the nation, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus. The Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the first ever rating system of LGBT inclusion in municipal law, finds that while many U.S. cities lag behind in protections for LGBT people, some of the most LGBT-friendly policies in the country have been innovated and implemented at the municipal level, including in states with laws that are unfriendly to the LGBT community. The MEI was issued in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute. The average score for cities in Ohio is 79 out of 100 points, which is in line with the national average. Cincinnati and Cleveland both scored 77 points, and Columbus scored 83.

Attorney Will Bring Social Justice and Organizational Development Experience to Ohio

Today, the Equality Ohio boards of directors announced the selection of Elyzabeth Joy Holford as the organization’s fourth Executive Director. Ms. Holford was chosen following a national search initiated in July 2012. She will lead Equality Ohio bringing over twenty years of leadership experience as an attorney, an educator and a business professional in both the public and private sectors.