Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law Blog Celebrates 3rd Anniversary!

Each year on this date, as the blog celebrates yet another year of existence, I am in awe.  Never have 365 days gone by so quickly.  This year, the blog celebrates its 3rd year.  That is a major milestone for me.  I’ve enjoyed the experience immensely.

My view from the blog author seat allowed me to explore things I might never have explored.  Posting tends to make one pay a bit more attention to the goings on in the world, that I have found to be true. In 2012, I’ve witnessed many changes in the LGBT community — some good and others disappointing or downright sad.

On the up side, the states of Maryland and Washington passed laws legalizing same-sex marriage (although the laws will be subject to voter referendum in November).  Couples began entering into Civil Unions this January (with laws passed in 2011) in Delaware and Hawaii.   U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White ruled in Golinski v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management that the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional.  The Ninth Circuit Court affirmed that California’s Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.  President Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage.  The New Yorker depicted lesbian brides on its June cover.  Target began selling greeting cards for same-sex couples.  There were plenty more victories this year (and hopefully more to come before the year is over).  Take a look through the archives to read some of those posts.

The down side saw North Carolina voters approve a constitutional amendment to prevent same-sex marriages.  The Boy Scouts of America shamefully reaffirmed its ban on gays.  One Million Moms boycotted J.C. Penney for hiring openly-gay comedian, Ellen DeGeneres, as their spokesperson.  Ellen ripped them apart in her wonderfully humorous way (video).  Louisiana rejected legislation to allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt.  Missouri introduced anti-gay legislation in its House.  Colorado killed its civil union bill.  A lot more happened but I’ll let you check out the archives for that.

This blog has gained momentum and visibility.  As the result of authoring this blog, I was asked to author a 2012 forecast piece for the Connecticut Law Tribune on LGBT legal issues.  In March, I was asked to join a panel discussion on legal blogging sponsored by the Young Lawyers Section of the Connecticut Bar Association called Secrets of the Law Bloggers.  March also saw the debut of the Fast Friday feature on this blog (as well as my sister blog, Attorney O’s Midnight Musings).  The blog got a facelift in April (I hope you’ve enjoyed the new look since then).  In May, I was interviewed by The Connecticut Post on Obama’s announcement that he supports gay marriage.  This week, I was contacted by a reporter for the BBC in London about possible participation in a one and a half hour radio program on the Boy Scouts ban of gays.  I’ll keep you posted on that one!  So yes, 2012 has already been a wonderful year for me and for this blog.

I must once again thank each and every one of you, my faithful readers, for hanging in there with me for the last three years.  If you’re reading for the first time today, welcome and I hope you’ll be back.  I look forward to meeting many more of you in the coming year as Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law Blog embarks on year four.

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Disclaimer: The information, comments and links posted on the blog do not constitute legal advice. I will not respond to any specific legal questions in the comments section of this blog.  Read my entire disclaimer.