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Lambda Legal Files Federal Lawsuit to
End Marriage Ban for Georgia Same-Sex Couples

"Georgians believe in the Southern values of love, honor and family, but as long as the State of Georgia continues to bar same-sex couples from marriage, it devalues these families and reinforces unfairness and discrimination."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Atlanta, April 22, 2014) - Today Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on behalf of a widow and three same-sex couples challenging Georgia’s discriminatory marriage ban.  The case was filed on behalf of Christopher Inniss and Shelton Stroman of Snellville, Rayshawn Chandler and Avery Chandler of Jonesboro, Michael Bishop and Shane Thomas of Atlanta, and Jennifer Sisson of Decatur.

“Georgia is our home. Our family is here, our business is here, and our community here is a great support for us,” said Christopher Inniss, veterinarian and pet resort owner. “Shelton and I have been together for 13 years. We own a home together, we own a business together, and we are raising our son, Jonathan, together. We have done everything we can to protect and take responsibility for our family but marriage is the only way to ensure that we are treated as the family that we are. We need the protection that marriage affords.”

Lead plaintiffs Chris, 39, and his partner Shelton Stroman, 41, have been together for 13 years. Their son, Jonathan, is 9. 

“Every day that same-sex couples in Georgia are denied the freedom to marry, the government sends a message that their families are not worthy of dignity and respect," said Tara Borelli, Senior Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office based in Atlanta. "Georgians believe in the Southern values of love, honor and family, but as long as the State of Georgia continues to bar same-sex couples from marriage, it devalues these families and reinforces unfairness and discrimination."

"Georgia joins a growing chorus of Southern voices clamoring for marriage equality. The freedom to marry is indeed coming south. We do not want a country divided by unfairness and discrimination. Same-sex couples are in loving, committed relationships in every region of our nation and should be treated the same way, whether they live in the Empire State or the Peach State," said Beth Littrell, Senior Attorney also based in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office.

Joining Inniss and Stroman as plaintiffs in the lawsuit are: Rayshawn Chandler, 29, and Avery Chandler, 30, Atlanta Police Department police officers who have been together for almost three years; Michael Bishop, 50, and Shane Thomas, 44, together for seven years and the parents of  two children; and Jennifer Sisson, 34, whose wife, Pamela Drenner, died on March 1 at age 49. Jennifer and Pam were married in New York in 2013. Despite being legally married, the State of Georgia has refused to list Jennifer as Pam’s wife on Pam’s death certificate.

In the lawsuit, Lambda Legal, joined by pro bono co-counsel from Bryan Cave and White & Case, argues that Georgia’s marriage ban unfairly discriminates against same-sex couples and sends a purposeful message that lesbians, gay men, and their children are second-class citizens who are undeserving of the legal sanction, respect, protections, and support that different-sex couples and their families are able to enjoy through marriage.

“Today’s filing represents a critically important step in the ongoing work toward marriage equality in Georgia. Georgia Equality stands with these inspiring couples in their fight to enable more than 21,000 same-sex couples and their families living in Georgia the freedom to marry the person who they love,” said Jeff Graham, Georgia Equality Executive Director.

Lambda Legal attorneys Tara Borelli, Beth Littrell, Gregory Nevins, and Susan Sommer are handling the case, joined by Georgia co-counsel William V. Custer of Bryan Cave LLP and David P. Draigh of White & Case LLP.

The case is Inniss v. Aderhold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Carolina police chief allegedly fired for being gay: “I can’t believe that we still have no equal rights”

The town of Latta has rallied around Crystal Moore, but the 20-year veteran of the police force is still jobless

Crystal Moore

The Latta Town Council has voted to make its small South Carolina community “council strong/mayor weak” in response to Mayor Earl Bullard’s decision to fire Police Chief Crystal Moore — a 20-year veteran of the force who was also the town’s first openly gay police chief. Many say the move had nothing to do with Moore’s job performance, but was driven by Bullard’s homophobia.
Bullard fired Moore last week after giving her seven reprimands in a single day, which another council member called “questionable.” According to local news station WBTW, the reprimands included running “unauthorized” background checks, “questioning authority of supervisor,” “questioning authority of mayor,” “failure to maintain order” and “contacting the news media.”
Moore, joined by members of the council and many in her community, believes that Bullard fired her because she is gay. Bullard was recently recorded by a fellow council member while making anti-LGBTQ remarks.
“I would much rather have … and I will say this to anybody’s face … somebody who drank and drank too much taking care of my child than I had somebody whose lifestyle is questionable around children,” Bullard said during the recording. “I’m not going to let 2 women stand up there and hold hands and let my child be aware of it. And I’m not going to see them do it with 2 men neither. I’m not going to do it. Because that ain’t the way the world works.”

Nicki Minaj Ditches the Wigs, Shows Off Natural Hair on the Red Carpet: Details From Her Stylist

Nicki Minaj Ditches the Wigs, Shows Off Natural Hair on the Red Carpet: Details From Her Stylist

With her long brown hair, muted makeup, and modest dresses on red carpets as of late, Nicki Minaj may have you wondering, "Who's that girl?"

Indeed, the "Super Bass" singer, 31, has ditched her trademark colorful hairstyles and wild makeup in favor of a more ladylike style for The Other Woman premiere in Los Angeles on April 21 and at the MTV Movie Awards on April 13.

Since splitting with her main wig man, Terrence Davidson, in January 2013, Minaj has worn mainly blonde hairstyles. "I started working with her early last year — the reason she reached out to me is because Tyra Banks had given her my number," celeb hairstylist, Oscar James, told Cosmopolitan.com. "She wanted a more toned-down look, and I think that's why she reached out to Tyra. So I created that wavy, super-blonde hair with the dark roots — the wig."

 

Nicki Minaj attends the 2014 MTV Movie Awards

While the blonde wigs were a step to a more natural look, James says Minaj has since totally ditched the wigs. "Now she's wearing her real hair," the celeb stylist, who also works with Halle Berry and Beyonce, said. "So I just follow her lead. When she would ask me, 'Well, what do you think I should do?' I usually bring things that are a little more stylized because I feel like that's who she is, but, surprising even to me, she's been leaning toward even more natural. She wants to do less. Just less, less, less."

 
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