May 13, 2016
Articles by Cathy Sakimura, Esq.
March 8, 2016
BIG NEWS: U.S. Supreme Court Unanimously Reverses Alabama’s Assault on LGBT Adoptive Parents
Monday, in a ruling that will protect LGBT parents across the country, the U.S. Supreme Court sharply rebuked the Alabama Supreme Court for refusing to recognize a Georgia adoption by a lesbian mother, our client. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in our case was unusual in three ways. First, it reversed the Alabama Supreme Court’s…December 29, 2015
AB 960: Protecting Families Using Assisted Reproduction Equally
Beginning January 1, 2016, California law will fully protect families conceiving children through assisted reproduction, regardless of how they conceive. California law already recognized many families using assisted reproduction, but it only provided protections to certain families. Assembly Bill 960—signed into law by California Gov. Jerry Brown in late 2015—provides several important new protections to…August 31, 2015
We Still Need Full Equality for LGBT Families
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent marriage equality ruling has brought the freedom to marry to the entire country, recognizing the equal dignity of our families. However, there is a lot more we need to do to achieve true family equality that fully respects the rights of LGBT parents and their children. Let me share the…April 6, 2015
When Marriage Is Not Enough: What same-sex couples need to know about protecting their families
Marriage equality across the nation has been moving at a breakneck speed and it shows no sign of stopping. Achieving this new legal benefit has been an incredible advancement for the rights and dignity of all LGBT people. But it’s also important to remember that even though marriage provides thousands of couples and their families…December 4, 2014
Quality Legal Services for the Low-Income LGBT Community
Recently, a colleague at a legal aid organization told me about a client who came in for help because he had quit his job. It wasn’t until the attorney gave the client an overview of their legal programs, including their LGBT work, that the client opened up and said he had quit because he was…August 8, 2014
Reproductive Justice Means Fully Protecting All Families Under the Law
Hobby Lobby is not the beginning—nor the end—of laws controlling the reproductive choices of oppressed groups and privileging the reproductive choices of a select few. Our legal system has a long and continuing history of restricting the reproductive choices of women, especially American Indian women, other women of color, low-income women, and people with disabilities. These…October 8, 2013
New CA Law Provides Equal Insurance Coverage for Fertility Services to LGBT Parents
Today, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 460, which clarifies that insurance coverage of fertility treatments must be offered and provided equally to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender prospective parents, who continue to face discrimination in receiving equal coverage for these services. Even though California law prohibits discrimination in insurance generally, same-sex couples, transgender…November 15, 2012
Protecting LGBT Families Across the Nation
Since NCLR’s founding 35 years ago, we have worked to advance family law for LGBT people and their families. NCLR has helped change the law in numerous states over the years, including prohibiting courts from taking custody away from a parent just because of his or her sexual orientation, allowing same-sex couples to adopt, ensuring…March 23, 2012