DOMA Repeal Moves Forward In Senate Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON -- Next month, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be voting on legislation to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, an important step forward in the fight for equality for same-sex couples.

"Next month, I will call up the Respect for Marriage Act for debate and a vote in the Judiciary Committee," said committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in a statement on Friday. "The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents thousands of American families from being protected by laws that help secure other American families. This is part of the nation's continuing fight for civil rights for all Americans."

The news was quickly heralded by many of the legislation's supporters, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who enthusiastically tweeted about the announcement.

"If Democrats and Republicans can come together to do what's right in New York, I know we can do the same in Congress to do what's right for all of America. Now is the time to act on the federal level," Gillibrand added in a statement.

"This markup is an incredible step toward ending federal marriage discrimination that causes real harm to American families," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "Chairman Leahy and Senator [Dianne] Feinstein have been leaders in this fight, and we applaud them for continuing the momentum against this unjust law."

Leahy held the first-ever hearing on DOMA repeal in July, and the Respect for Marriage Act now has 30 Senate co-sponsors. Feinstein (D-Calif.) is the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate. In the House, the legislation has a record bipartisan group of 129 co-sponsors.

President Barack Obama still has not publicly come out in support of marriage equality, but he does support repealing DOMA.

In May, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Obama administration would no longer be defending the 1996 law in federal court after the Justice Department concluded it is unconstitutional. In response, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has contracted with an outside law firm to defend DOMA, which is costing taxpayers up to $1.5 million.

Comments

[Diana Scrimger]

08:12 PM on 10/26/2011

It certainly seems rather ironic that the hearing is to be held on November 3rd. Now who's birthday is this? You must remember the Yes on Prop 8 man seeing him live on the Golden Globes Awards in 2011! Yet he supposely died in 1995 so how is this even possible? Could it be that it was only his AKA! That it will be stated that you cannot marry an AKA! That is why the Republicans will win over the Democrats whehter they like it or not!

[Diana Scrimger]

08:07 PM on 10/26/2011

DOMA should not be repealed. The Yes on Prop 8 side won the popular vote! Marriage is only between a man and a woman. Congress should know that because you cannot marry an AKA! The Republicans should and will win the argument!

[truth be told again]

02:13 PM on 10/18/2011

Could someone please explain the "legitimate purpose" being served by keeping gay couples from marrying?

[Dennis Endicott]

02:54 PM on 10/17/2011

To those who are against this Respect for Marriage act... it is hurting so many many families. I am married to my Dutch partner (19 years) and live in Holland. However my Dad is ill and needs me home... however we as a family cannot move there to take care of him. I am being forced to chose between my husband and children and my Father!! Please repeal DOMA before it is to late!

[pavementends42]

02:46 PM on 10/17/2011

If this were to happen, I think my confidence in our survival as a society would be restored. I fear, to see it delayed again, would put me on a track to move somewhere with respect for ALL of its citizens. Now, where's that case that shuts down bans on gay marriages, nation-wide?!

[Raul McElroy]

04:29 PM on 10/23/2011

Having the standing being determined by the CA Supreme Court.

[MekhongKurt]

02:03 PM on 10/16/2011

For me, the biggest part of this story is that even after the Justice department said it would no longer defend DOMA because they believe it to be unconstitutional, how on EARTH did Speaker Boehner get away with spending up to $1,500,000 of OUR money to contract a private law firm to defend the act??? Does he now serve as the Director of the Department of Justice at the same time he's Speaker???

Can't he be taken to court on some charge such as malfeasance, embezzlement of public funds, interfering with the DOJ and the courts, or SOMETHING???

Unbelievable. He's been screaming to reduce government spending yet turns right around and very possibly stepped WAY beyond his Constitutional authority to muck around in the Executive Branch of government -- unless, of course, he has engineered a takeover of the DOJ by the Office of the Speaker of the House.

Finally, which law firm did he hire? Wanna bet it's owned by a buddy, at the very least, and very possibly a campaign contributor? I sure bet it is.

[bkyf]

07:39 AM on 10/24/2011

On the contrary, Holder sent Boehner a letter cordially inviting him and BLAG to do just what they are doing ("Hey, this DOMA thing is indefensible and we don't want to waste our time, but if you guys care so much, then go ahead"). It is all quite right and proper. The disgrace here is rather the argument being made, which is quite invalid and offensive.

[doctorJulia]

11:08 AM on 10/16/2011

We are a married couple who have been together for 26 years. We got married in California when it was legal for five minutes in 2008. We receive social security but are denied the so-called "spousal award" where the person in the marriage who earned less in their lifetime gets their benefit increased up to half their spouse's benefit. Maybe you think this is trivial if you work at an investment banker's operation, but to us this represents about $1000 a month which we could really use. We both paid into the system for forty years. They didn't send us a refund because we would be receiving less. Is this really the American way?

[rockysparks]

12:26 AM on 10/16/2011

No one needs to defend marriage from me --- I'm single, gay and I still ended up with seven kids, some of whom are biological (two abandoned by their mothers) and the adoption and fostering of the rest was approved by the courts.

I guess what I'm saying is that as much as I think I'd like to be married, I was able to live my life and be a parent anyway. In any case, I find it hard to believe that gay people are something that is a threat to marriage. Didn't some straight man cause a massacre at a California beauty shop last week because he was mad at his ex-wife? Gay people weren't a part of THAT marriage.

Britney Spears can marry and divorce in less than a week. Other straight people are recreational matrimonialists --- I have a sister who's married four men named Bill in her lifetime; she can use the same monogrammed napkins at every nuptial and I suspect her of having a wash-and-wear recyclable wedding dress. But committed gay couples, no matter how boringly monogamous their lives are, can't get married? Are we living in a Through-the-Looking-Glass world here?

DOMA, a bogus and discriminatory law, needs to be repealed. It's easy to do, Congress --- easier than creating jobs and passing universal health care, both of which we need more. So just do it and let's get on with real issues and not imaginary "threats".

[bluntobject]

01:30 AM on 10/16/2011

7 kids???? It's a mercy you were on foot and not a bicycle!

:)

[rockysparks]

09:24 AM on 10/16/2011

Um ... sorry, it's early in the morning and my caffeine hasn't kicked in. Not sure I get what you're saying ...

[slobone]

10:02 PM on 10/15/2011

If any of you can decode Obama's position on same-sex marriage, I think you have a very promising career working with ancient hieroglyphics...

[Contact1972]

02:54 AM on 10/16/2011

Very simple to decode. The President has always believed that GLBT Americans should be treated equally under the law. Unfortunately due to the GOTP still living in the dark ages he has to play this silly political game of 'marriage evolution'. If he gets elected to a second term I have no doubt that he will come out full force for gay marriage.

The GOTP on the other hand will continue to cling to their stupidity.

[truth be told again]

01:00 PM on 10/18/2011

What Contact1972 said. Not so difficult to "decode".

Now, let's address the OFFICIAL GOP "position on same-sex marriage"m shall we? (As if there is a valid comparison to begin with.)

(Hint: they're opposed to ANY legal recognition of our perfectly legal marriages.)

[Atwill]

06:18 PM on 10/15/2011

DOMA needs to die. all thoe gay couples who have marriage license who are in the military need to be given all the same benefits as straight married couples. all 50 states need to be forced to have gay marriage. No more of these illegal votes like prop 8 here in Calif.

[RutherfordLaser]

12:46 PM on 10/15/2011

I'm still wondering how gay marriage effects my straight marriage at all or even anything relating to my day to day life. Sell this hate to me, bigots. Explain how it will be a detriment to me.

[WheelsOnFire]

04:07 PM on 10/15/2011

You ask a great question -- one I've asked scores of times.

But I've never received a rational, intelligent, responsive answer.

That's because there isn't one.

[Contact1972]

04:59 PM on 10/15/2011

But I've never received a rational, intelligen­t, responsive answer.
***************************************************************
And you and I both know-we never will.

[ieieieie]

05:03 PM on 10/15/2011

They have no rational, logical explanation for why same-sex marriage shouldn't be legal. Their reasoning for such is ENTIRELY based on conditioned hatred, emotion, and religious belief - none of which belong in American legislature!

[OHteach]

12:00 PM on 10/15/2011

I object to John "we're broke" Boehner spending $1.5 million of our taxpayer dollars to defend discrimination. You know when they blow through that they'll spend even more. Funny how we have money for this, but no money to fund women's health or put people back to work.

[WheelsOnFire]

04:09 PM on 10/15/2011

Well said.

The Republicans will spend all they can get their hands on to support their discrimination, hatred and bigotry. They believe they have a blank check to spend on efforts to harm those different from themselves.

By the way, Boehner, where are the jobs?

[Contact1972]

05:00 PM on 10/15/2011

Please contact your GOTP Reps, and your Senators and explain this to them.

[Shannon Barber]

11:40 AM on 10/15/2011

I hope repeal is swift and painless. Long overdue. No more bigoted laws running this country and ruining lives.

Right now, I am trying to adopt my ex girlfriend's baby, because his birth father is a drug dealing bum. But the state of SC thinks HE would be a better parent than I, who will soon graduate college. I personally think there is something very wrong with that, don't you?

[Contact1972]

05:01 PM on 10/15/2011

Unfortunately the GOTP will fight this tooth and nail. I see relief coming from the courts.

[Shannon Barber]

06:13 PM on 10/15/2011

Of course they will fight it... just to spite us. Forget jobs! We'll make the queers as downtrodden and miserable as possible.

[MichaelDavidson]

11:02 AM on 10/15/2011

Unfortunately, with the current political climate in this country, this will not be repealed any time soon...without judicial intervention.

[Contact1972]

05:01 PM on 10/15/2011

Unfortunately youre right.

[tlee47ftw]

11:00 AM on 10/15/2011

The Republicans are spending $1.5 million to fight for support of hatred and bigotry. Isn't that a waste of tax payer dollars? Isn't it a poor cause to spend it on?

[Contact1972]

05:05 PM on 10/15/2011

I agree-contact your GOTP reps and tell them so.