Paul McGuire

Explains the status of various cases making their way through the courts challenging same-sex marriage bans. Looks at why some decisions have been stayed while others were not.

Explores the recent push to pass so-called Religious Freedom bills. Are they really necessary? Will they lead to unexpected consequences? Is there really an assault on religious freedoms?

Explains the challenges to same-sex marriage bans in Oklahoma and Utah and how the two cases are likely to lead to a broader ruling by The Supreme Court.

Discusses how advances in marriage equality will affect couples in civil unions or domestic partnerships who do not wish to get married. Examines why some might prefer marriage and why others might prefer civil unions.

Discusses a new bill signed by Jerry Brown that allows for courts to recognize more than 2 legal parents in certain circumstances.

Discusses the First Amendment challenge to a Los Angeles ordinance that requires performers to wear condoms when making porn. I also examine some of the enforcement mechanisms that are quite invasive.

Discusses ongoing challenges to bans on same-sex marriage around the country. Also examines proposals from the Department of Defense for helping military couples get married in states where it is legal.

Because California just started allowing same-sex marriages again, some couples may feel a political motivation to take part. This article explains some basics of divorce law so that couples can consider what might happen in the event of a divorce before getting married.

Explains the Supreme Court decisions in cases involving Prop 8 and DOMA. Takes a look at the reasoning behind the decisions as well as the arguments made in the dissents.

Explains what a morals clause is and how they are being used to hurt LGBT people in divorce and employment.

Discusses a proposed law in California that would protect transgender students from discrimination based on their gender identity. Also explores issues that have surfaced in other states and how they dealt with transgender issues.

An explanation of the oral arguments at The Supreme Court in the Proposition 8 case. The article discusses the five most likely outcomes that can be expected.

Discusses the need in some situations for recognition of more than two legal parents, especially when a same-sex couple brings in a third parent of the opposite sex. That third parent traditionally would not have any rights as a parent. This examines proposals that have been made in California to change the law.

There are two big cases coming before the United States Supreme Court this term that involve LGBT rights. Most people in California know about the challenge to Proposition 8 that has been making its way through the court system for the last four years. Fewer are aware of the challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This article explains the impacts of DOMA on same-sex couples.