Venerable LGBT legal association recognizes S.F. City Attorney at its 36th BALIF Annual Gala for work to win marriage equality in California
SAN FRANCISCO (Feb. 23, 2016)—Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, the nation’s oldest and largest association of LGBT professionals, honored City Attorney Dennis Herrera with its Legal Service Award at BALIF’s 36th Annual Gala on Friday, Feb. 19. The award recognized Herrera for his legal advocacy to advance marriage equality for the LGBT community.
“I am honored to receive this award from BALIF, and am proud to have worked with so many of its members in the decade long battle for marriage equality in California,” said Herrera. “However, the fight for LGBT equality continues on so many fronts. Today, [inlinetweet prefix=”null” tweeter=”null” suffix=”null”]31 states still lack fully inclusive non-discrimination laws[/inlinetweet]. It highlights the need for full federal LGBT equality—and for why Congress must pass the federal Equality Act.”
Herrera filed the first government-initiated challenge to marriage laws that discriminate against same-sex couples in American history, and his office holds the unique distinction of being the only legal team involved as a party in aspect of the legal fight in California — in every case, in every court, before every judge — from early 2004 to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark rulings in June 2013. From defending Mayor Gavin Newsom’s decision to issue same-sex marriage licenses in February 2004, Herrera’s office went on to successfully sue to strike down the anti-gay marriage exclusion in state courts, and continued to represent the public sector interest in striking down Proposition 8 in the successful federal challenge alongside the American Foundation for Equal Rights.
To read more about City Attorney’s Office involvement in the fight for marriage equality, visit our website at https://www.sfcityattorney.org/category/news/marriage-equality/
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