Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Becomes First Republican To Cosponsor DOMA Repeal

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) has signed on as the first Republican co-sponsor of the bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

“I voted against the constitutional amendment defining marriage so I’m pleased to co-sponsor the repeal of DOMA and work with my colleagues on marriage equality,” said Ros-Lehtinen in a statement.

The DOMA-repeal bill, known as the Respect for Marriage Act, now has 125 cosponsors.

Under DOMA, which was signed into law in 1996, states are allowed to not recognize valid same-sex unions performed in other states. Same-sex couples are also denied federal benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples, such as joint filing of taxes, spousal benefits under Social Security and health and pension benefits.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who introduced the Respect for Marriage Act, said Ros-Lehtinen's "support reminds us that the march to repeal the discriminatory DOMA is not a partisan issue. Just as New York showed the nation this summer in its bipartisan embrace of marriage equality, the drive to end DOMA is -- and must be -- a collective, nonpartisan effort that unites Americans behind a simple push for equality. Our coalition grows stronger and larger every day."

R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, also praised Ros-Lehtinen for signing on, noting that she also is a found member of the House LGBT caucus.

"[S]he has been a reliable ally and leader time and again on legislation to secure freedom and fairness for all Americans. Log Cabin Republicans are grateful that she has once again stepped forward as an inclusive leader by co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act," he said in a statement.

Ros-Lehtinen also spoke at the Log Cabin Republicans' Spirit of Lincoln Awards reception in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, where the Advocate noted she was "warmly received."

“As Republicans, we are committed to ensure that the federal government play its proper role. Defining marriage is not part of that role,” read her prepared remarks, which she didn't deliver but released afterward to the press.

Last week, the Respect for Marriage Act picked up four more Democratic cosponsors, including Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), who signed on in response to GOP state lawmakers in North Carolina approving an anti-marriage equality constitutional amendment.

President Obama still does not publicly support marriage equality, although he has given his backing to the Respect for Marriage Act.

Earlier On HuffPost:

Comments

[truth be told again]

03:19 PM on 09/29/2011

OMFG, a Republican doing the right thing.

[Matt Chernesky]

11:31 AM on 09/24/2011

What a brave woman. It's unfortunate the Tea Party will probably primary her out of existence for supporting equality.

[Carl Caroli]

07:29 AM on 09/24/2011

Thank you for defending the principles of this country and taking a stand within your party. Religious organizations are entitled to marry or not who ever they please. So are the people, without their, or anyone elses interference. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not subject to the whims of special interests or political parties.

[awaitingmd]

10:09 PM on 09/23/2011

Courageous woman. Hope her ilk don't turn on her.

[Blue Pup in PHX]

09:08 PM on 09/23/2011

Ohhhhh, Ileana...they are gonna so rip that GOPer Party Membership card right out of your little fingers...after they stomp on them.... this will NOT be pretty.

[ReverendKen]

07:39 PM on 09/23/2011

Same Gender Marriage will become the law of the land and there is nothing the conservatives can do to stop it. They can slow it down but equal rights for everyone must triumph over religious based morals.

I respect the right of a person to follow their religious morals. I have a problem with religious people that decide they want to enact laws that force the rest of us to follow their morals.

I have my own morals and I do nothing to force them upon others and I would appreciate the same courtesy.

[rolor]

06:21 PM on 09/23/2011

It's nice to know that some, few conservatives don't walk in lock-step mindless discrimination with the rest of their party.

It is interesting though, how conservative initiatives always seem to be branded with some form of diametrically oppositional spin using either the terms, "patriot" or "defense". This so-called "defense of marriage" should be called "no rights for those who don't meet discriminatory criteria act"; but... I suppose that's just too much of a mouthful for some people and too truthful for others.

[Raiderthree]

06:17 PM on 09/23/2011

Hopefully she will be voted out of office in the coming elections.

[awaitingmd]

10:10 PM on 09/23/2011

No room for self thinkers, I see.

[tainteddr34ms]

11:14 PM on 09/23/2011

Why? Can't have a republican who's not a homophobic bigot?

[Matt Chernesky]

11:29 AM on 09/24/2011

You know Republicans. If you support equality, they'll eat you alive. Just like when a mommy scorpion turns on her babies.

[Knowbetter]

06:16 PM on 09/23/2011

Marriage = ♥+♥

[RepublicanDepression]

05:58 PM on 09/23/2011

One lone Republicans fights valiantly to protect her party from its inexorable slide into the abyss of historical irrelevance.

Will it work? If it does, expect that in 20 years the only Republican to admit he's against marriage equality will be Rand Paul, just as he's still trying to fudge his opposition to civil rights equality.

But then he'll just flip-flop when he gets called out.

[Razorback Guy]

01:30 AM on 09/24/2011

Don't forget to add Rick Santorum's name with Rand Paul's. Of course, in 20 years ole Rick might have finally come out of the closet (or been outed by someone).

[RepublicanDepression]

04:05 PM on 09/24/2011

Good point.

"A classic study reveals that young homophobic men have secret gay urges"

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=single-angry-straight-male

[fgrammit]

02:00 AM on 09/24/2011

if he does any flip flop in twenty years im pretty sure it will be underground lol unless he gets cremated

[RepublicanDepression]

04:02 PM on 09/24/2011

LOL! Rand Paul has ALREADY flip-flopped.

Revealed: Rand Paul reverses on core campaign pledge before even taking office

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/08/flipflop-rand-paul-quietly-reverses-earmarks-i-advocate-kentuckys-interests/

Rand Paul Flip Flops On Bank Bailout Vow, Seeks Fundraising Help From GOP Senators Who Voted For It

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/rand-paul-flip-flops-on-b_n_621523.html

Rand Paul Flip-Flops on Farm Subsidies
http://hillbillyreport.org/diary/1686/rand-paul-flipflops-on-farm-subsidies

Rand Paul Flip-Flops on Border Fence
http://www.frumforum.com/rand-paul-flip-flops-on-border-fence

The Stunning Speed of Rand Paul’s Civil Rights Act Flip-Flop
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/05/21/the-stunning-speed-of-rand-pauls-civil-rights-act-flip-flop/

Plus his ratty toupee flip-flops in the breeze.

[ibsteve2u]

05:46 PM on 09/23/2011

A Republican co-sponsor for a DOMA repeal effort? Huh...either she doesn't intend to run again, she is already assured of her financing, or the Republicans bought cheap chips to put into the heads of their members.

[Larkhill]

05:37 PM on 09/23/2011

Even a broken clock's right twice a day...

[Jude Mcdonald]

05:36 PM on 09/23/2011

Well, I know where I do not want to live,totally not republican.

[BUTCHER111]

05:28 PM on 09/23/2011

I wonder how long before conservatives attack her.

[truth be told again]

03:23 PM on 09/29/2011

They already have. See Raiderthree's post of 06:17 PM on 9/23/2011 above.

[dztmseh70]

05:09 PM on 09/23/2011

I originally commented on this with a completely ridiculous comment. Thanks to you who have responded and set me straight. I probably didn't read the article well enough. Cudos to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. She is one of the good ones.