LGBT Legal Clinic to Open in Md.?

Lawyers in Baltimore are organizing a fledgling legal clinic for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered clients. If it gets off the ground, it reportedly will be the first LGBT clinic in the state of Maryland and one of the few in the country.

Individuals working with the FreeState Law Project hope to raise $250,000 to get the clinic started, writes the Baltimore Sun. Specialized legal services are needed because the LGBT community has unique issues, and different legal rules apply, since same-sex couples can't enter into legally recognized marriages.

"There's a tremendous number of folks who have problems," says Baltimore attorney Nevett Steele, who is one of the chief organizers behind the effort. "Partners who are breaking up, and there is no law like there is with heterosexual partners."