Lawyers Battle for a Piece of History as the Fight for Marriage Equality Wages On

The United States is well on its way to securing universal marriage equality for all Americans, but as the stakes get continuously higher, it appears that myriad lawyers and human rights organizations want in on the action. Reports Chris Geidner for Buzzfeed, “The fight to win marriage equality across the nation has in recent months become nearly as much a fight about which lawyers and organizations will get to be the ones making the arguments before the Supreme Court – and taking credit for a win.” There are many groups actively and aggressively working for marriage equality, but Geidner is referring specifically to the most recent cases in Virginia.

Virginia's recent LGBT victory is being appealed.
Image: Shutterstock

According to Freedom To Marry, on February 13^th, District Court Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit on behalf of same-sex couples seeking the right to wed in Virginia, and to have their marriages legally recognized if they were performed in other states. This ruling was in regards to the Bostic v. Rainey case, filed on behalf of two same-sex couples by private lawyers, but later joined by the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). The ruling has since been appealed.

AFER, headed by Chad Griffin, Ken Mehlman, and other prominent LGBT rights and marriage equality advocates, was instrumental in overturning California’s Proposition 8, and has been at the forefront of national marriage equality issues and cases ever since. When Judge Allen’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage was appealed, AFER stepped in immediately to support the plaintiffs. Now, other organizations like Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) want to join the fight, but AFER is reluctant to share the national stage, especially because these organizations didn’t offer support during the fight to overturn Prop 8.

Explains Geidner, “The change from advocates over the past five years is dramatic. As recently as early 2009, organizations like Lambda and the ACLU balked when Chad Griffin asked them about going to federal court to make broad constitutional claims to fight California’s Proposition 8,” of the change of heart these groups are showing. Do the ACLU, Lambda, and others have same-sex couples’ best interests in mind, or are they merely looking for the opportune moment to steal a portion of the national spotlight?

Learn more about the national status of marriage equality by visiting Freedom To Marry.