Three months later, Noel was sentenced to four years in prison, but with time served, he was released in September 2003. He was disbarred by California in February 2007.

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At Knoller's sentencing hearing in June 2002, Hammer asked her to apologize to Smith, but Knoller remained silent.

Judge James Warren called Noel and Knoller "the most hated people in San Francisco" and described Knoller as "a liar" and "despicable." He went on, however, to shock those in court--and, indeed, the millions across the nation who had been following the case--by throwing out the second-degree murder conviction on the grounds that Knoller "did not know, with absolute certainty" that her dog would kill a person when and where it did.

With the charges reduced, Knoller was also sentenced to four years imprisonment. Upon her release in January 2004, she moved to Florida to stay with her parents. She resigned from the California Bar in January 2007.

After a long series of appeals by both Knoller and the District Attorney's office, the matter went before the California Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously on May 31, 2007 that the case should be sent back to Superior Court for consideration of restoring the jury's verdict of guilty on the charge on second-degree murder.

Judge Warren having retired, a different judge will decide whether or not to reinstate the murder conviction, which carries a penalty of fifteen years to life in prison.

"Domestic partnership" is the generic term for a variety of forms of legal and institutional recognition of same-sex couples that fall short of same-sex marriage.

Many glbtq people reject a fixed definition of family imposed by society, and instead claim the right to define their own families as they choose.

Lesbian and gay couples have been fighting for the freedom to marry since the dawn of the modern glbtq struggle for equality; despite some success abroad, progress toward same-sex marriage in the United States has been slow.

Although lesbians and athletics have long been identified with each other, lesbian athletes, despite great achievements, still face numerous obstacles.

Mark Bingham, San Francisco businessman and rugby enthusiast, is believed to have helped avert the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 into a populated landmark on September 11, 2001.

Equality California (EQCA) is one of the largest and fastest growing statewide glbtq advocacy and civil rights organizations in the United States.

The plight of Thompson and Kowalski brought into sharp focus an issue that many able-bodied gay men and lesbians had never considered: the importance of giving legal status to their chosen families.