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THE RHODE ISLAND ACLU AND THE RIGHTS OF GAY MEN AND LESBIANS

1976: Toward a Gayer Bicentennial Committee v. R.I. Bicentennial Commission -- Successful court suit on behalf of a group arbitrarily denied official endorsement of a gay pride parade as a bicentennial event.

1976: Toward a Gayer Bicentennial Committee v. McQueeney -- Restraining order issued by federal court on behalf of a gay group originally denied a permit to hold a parade in Providence.

1980: Santos v. Brown -- Representation in federal court of person convicted of violating state sodomy law prohibiting “the abominable and detestable crime against nature.” The defendant’s conviction was reversed on other grounds.

1984: Project Vote v. DiStefano -- Successful federal lawsuit on behalf of R.I. Alliance for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights and other groups denied appointment as voter registrars by state Board of Elections.

1987: Field v. Field -- “Friend of the court” brief filed in state Supreme Court against Family Court custody restrictions on a mother solely because of her sexual orientation; the case was settled.

1988: In re: G.R.K. -- Successful appeal of a Probate Court decision denying a person’s request to change her first name from a male to female name after undergoing a sex change operation.

1990: D’Errico v. D’Errico -- Appeal on behalf of a divorced gay man barred by a Family Court order from having his two children visit with him overnight or in the presence of his male partner; the appeal was voluntarily dismissed due to an incomplete trial record.

1992: Decristo v. R.I. Commission for Human Rights -- Successful federal lawsuit on behalf of a person with HIV who was barred by statute from publicizing his complaint of discrimination while it was pending before the Human Rights Commission.

1993: M.V. v. Russo and Stephenson -- Favorably settled discrimination complaints on behalf of a person who had been denied dental treatment because of his HIV-status.

1994: State v. Quitevis -- Defense representation of person charged with “loitering for indecent purposes” after being entrapped by police.

1997: In re: C.D. -- Representation before internal police review board of a person harassed by Providence police officers on the basis of his sexual orientation.

1998: Davis v. Prignano -- Lawsuit, filed with GLAD, against the Providence Police Department for failing to release arrest reports of individuals charged with “loitering for indecent purposes” at a park which was the subject of anti-gay sting operations; the records were released.

2004: Tiverton School Committee v. McCullough -- Successful representation of a retired school teacher who sought to have the school district add her same-sex spouse to her health insurance plan.