Romer v. Evans
Country: United StatesYear: 1996
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Citation: 517 U.S. 620 (1996)
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination
Petitioners (supporters of Amendment 2) brought this appeal from the Colorado State Supreme Court where that court affirmed a lower court’s ruling that Amendment 2 was invalid. Amendment 2 barred the State of Colorado from enacting, adopting or enforcing anti-discrimination laws which would have protected homosexuals, gays and lesbians. Prior to Amendment 2, multiple cities …Read more
Anderson v. Romero
Country: United StatesYear: 1995
Court: 7th Circuit Court of Appeal
Citation: 72 F.3d 518 (1995)
Health Topics: Health information, HIV/AIDS, Infectious diseases, Prisons, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to privacy
The Appellee, Anderson, brought this challenge against two prison officials at the cell house in which he was placed. Anderson alleged that a superintendent and a guard violated his constitutional right to privacy and the Illinois AIDS Confidentiality Act by revealing that he was infected with the AIDS virus to an inmate sleeping in Anderson’s …Read more
Egan v. The Queen
Country: CanadaYear: 1995
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: [1995] 2 SCR 513
Health Topics: Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination
The appellants E and N, a homosexual couple who had lived together for 38 years and publicly represented themselves as partners, were denied a spousal allowance for N under section 19(1) of the federal Old Age Security Act 1985 (“Act”) solely on the basis that their relationship was of a homosexual nature and thus did …Read more
Canada (Attorney General) v. Thwaites
Country: CanadaYear: 1994
Court: Federal Court - Trial Division
Citation: [1994] 3 F.C. 38
Health Topics: Disabilities, Health care and health services, HIV/AIDS, Medicines, Occupational health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to work
Simon Thwaites filed a complaint against the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), alleging that it discriminated against him under the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) by restricting his employment because of his HIV-positive status. Thwaites enlisted in the CAF in 1980 and by 1986 had risen to the rank of master seaman, a position that primarily …Read more
Doe v. City of New York
Country: United StatesYear: 1994
Court: 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal
Citation: 15 F.3d 264 (1994)
Health Topics: Health information, HIV/AIDS, Infectious diseases, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to privacy
The Appellant, Doe, brought this suit against the City of New York (the City) and the City of New York Commission on Human Rights (the Commission) alleging that they breached his constitutional right to privacy. Doe filed an action with the Commission against his former employer, Delta Air Lines (Delta), alleging that Delta did not …Read more
Multimedia WMAZ v. Kubach
Country: United StatesYear: 1994
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Citation: 443 SE 2d 491 (1994)
Health Topics: Health information, HIV/AIDS, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to privacy
The plaintiff brought suit for invasion of privacy against the defendant, a broadcasting company, for the failure to adequately digitize the claimant’s image in a televised show on the topic of AIDS. The plaintiff was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. While originally depressed and in poor condition after diagnosis, the plaintiff had a turnaround in …Read more
Toonen v. Australia
Country: AustraliaYear: 1994
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: CCPR/C/50/D/488/1992
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Health information, HIV/AIDS, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to privacy
Nicholas Toonen was a gay man, HIV/AIDS activist, and LGBT rights activist living in Tasmania. Tasmania criminalized same-sex sexual conduct among men under ss 122 and 123 its criminal code; it was the last remaining state or territory of Australia to do so, the remainder having repealed such laws. Toonen brought a communication before the …Read more
Norris v. Ireland
Country: IrelandYear: 1988
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 10581/83; (1988) 13 EHRR 186; [1988] ECHR 22
Health Topics: Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to privacy
The appellant, Mr. Norris, complained against the laws in Ireland which criminalized consensual homosexual acts (the impugned provisions). The applicant was a gay Irish citizen and gay rights advocate who claimed to suffered deep depression and loneliness arising from his inability to express his sexuality. He gave evidence of certain health and other detrimental effects …Read more
Bowers v. Hardwick
Country: United StatesYear: 1986
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 478 U.S. 186
Health Topics: Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to privacy
This case has been overruled by Lawrence v. Texas. The respondent, Hardwick, alleged that a Georgia state law prohibiting sodomy was unconstitutional. In 1982, the respondent was charged with violating a Georgia statute that prohibited sodomy after committing that act with another individual in the bedroom of the respondent’s home. The District Attorney later dropped …Read more
Dudgeon v. United Kingdom
Country: United KingdomYear: 1981
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 7525/76; (1981) 4 EHRR 149; [1981] ECHR 5
Health Topics: Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to privacy
During a police search of Applicant Dudgeon’s home on suspicion of drug activity, personal property, including correspondences and diaries describing same-sex sexual activity, was seized. Dudgeon was subsequently taken to a police station and questioned extensively about his sexual life. The prosecutor considered but eventually declined to prosecute Dudgeon under a statute prohibiting “gross indecency” …Read more