Defense of Marriage Act

Judge Hits 'Moral Condemnation' Of Anti-Gay Marriage Law

AP | Posted 05.25.2012

OAKLAND, Calif. -- A second federal judge in California has struck down a law denying benefits to partners in a gay marriage. U.S. District Judge C...

What The Defense Of Marriage Act Has Wrought In One Family: An Open Letter To President Obama

Dr. Susan Corso | Posted 05.22.2012

Dr. Susan Corso

Mr. President, no taxpayer should have to go through this sort of harassment ever again. Distress understates the case. I'm sad beyond sad that I have to defend my marriage, my choice of profession, and my integrity to my own government.

Unmarry Me?

Jared Gardner | Posted 05.22.2012

Jared Gardner

Getting married did not make our love stronger, nor did attesting it to some random judge and a ragtag assortment of family make it more meaningful. We knew we were exploiting the privileges of heterosexuality.

A Win on Marriage for Obama

Lincoln Mitchell | Posted 05.15.2012

Lincoln Mitchell

Obama's position on marriage equality changes the policy debate on this issue, probably permanently. Not only is it good to see that the president supports equality for all Americans, but Obama's statement throws down a challenge for future bigots and enshrines marriage equality as the Democratic position.

Shift On Marriage Energizes Immigration Activists

AP | JERI CLAUSING | Posted 05.15.2012

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — President Barack Obama's shift to support gay marriage is energizing young Hispanic voters who have been working side-by-sid...

Obama On Gay Marriage: It 'Doesn't Weaken Families;' It 'Strengthens Families'

AP | JULIE PACE | Posted 05.15.2012

NEW YORK -- President Barack Obama on Monday defended his view that gay couples should have the right to marry, saying that the country has never gone...

Needed: An Effective Defense of Marriage Act

Steven Clifford | Posted 05.14.2012

Steven Clifford

A wife may not request that her husband ask for directions. However, she may ask for directions herself provided the husband is at least 50 feet away and not looking in her direction.

Obama, Service Members and Marriage Equality

Aubrey Sarvis | Posted 05.11.2012

Aubrey Sarvis

We are fighting in court to overturn DOMA and assure that gay and lesbian married military couples receive the same benefits from the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs that their married straight comrades take for granted.

DOMA Repeal Gains Significant New Ally

The Huffington Post | Max J. Rosenthal | Posted 05.11.2012

In February, President Barack Obama declared that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and ordered the Department of Justice to stop defen...

Obama and Same-Sex Marriage: The Kids Are All Right

Sandip Roy | Posted 05.11.2012

Sandip Roy

Unless the law changes at a federal level, it won't make a difference when it comes to immigration for gay couples a friend cautioned. The president was careful to say this just what he feels "personally." "But it still feels good," my friend said.

Elise Foley

House GOP To Defend DOMA For Separating Same-Sex Binational Couples

HuffingtonPost.com | Elise Foley | Posted 05.09.2012

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans will intervene in a lawsuit that would keep same-sex couples from being pulled apart -- even separated to different co...

Meet Dr. Hadland and Dr. Vassy

Robert Accordino M.D., M.Sc. | Posted 04.30.2012

Robert Accordino M.D., M.Sc.

During our primary-care crisis, should the U.S. be using valuable resources to deport Harvard-trained primary-care physicians who want to serve patients and also remain in the same country as their spouses? According to DOMA, it should.

Dear Michelle: An Open Letter to the First Lady About Same-Sex Military Families

Shawn DeBarge Goodin | Posted 04.19.2012

Shawn DeBarge Goodin

Although Brandon and I live in Washington State, which now has marriage equality, if we were to marry the certificate would carry no value when presented at my post. Simply because of our sexual orientation, my marriage would go unrecognized.

It's Time to Honor All Military Families

Aubrey Sarvis | Posted 04.11.2012

Aubrey Sarvis

Repeal of DADT was a monumental achievement, but it did not level the playing field for gay and lesbian service members, veterans, and their families. It's time to end these discriminatory laws, finish the job, and honor all military families.

DOMA Packs A Particularly Potent Punch At Tax Time

John Becker | Posted 04.11.2012

John Becker

I choose to share my story because of the truly astonishing number of well-meaning people, both inside and outside the LGBT community, who have absolutely no clue that same-sex couples incur federal tax penalties even when they live in states that recognize their marriages.

For The First Time, A Challenge To The Defense Of Marriage Act Is Heard By An Appeals Court

Scottie Thomaston | Posted 04.05.2012

Scottie Thomaston

The First Circuit heard oral arguments Wednesday, April 4, in Gill v. OPM and Massachusetts v. HHS, the first challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act that has reached an appeals court, and a possible vehicle for a future Supreme Court challenge to the discriminatory Act.

Lawyer: DOMA Amounts To 'Across-The-Board Disrespect'

AP | By DENISE LAVOIE | Posted 04.04.2012

BOSTON -- A lawyer for gay married couples argued Wednesday that a law that denies them a host of federal benefits given to heterosexual couples amoun...

What To Expect From Tomorrow's DOMA Hearing In The First Circuit Court Of Appeals

Adam Bink | Posted 04.04.2012

Adam Bink

It has been almost two years since District Court Judge Joseph Tauro ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. Here's a brief review of the issues presented and the legal analysis behind the judge's decision.

Elise Foley

Same-Sex Couples Sue To Stop DOMA Discrimination On Green Cards

HuffingtonPost.com | Elise Foley | Posted 04.02.2012

WASHINGTON -- Five same-sex couples that are unable to obtain green cards for a foreign-born partner filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Defense of ...

Jennifer Bendery

Republican Lesbian Who Helped Write DOMA Now Lobbying To Repeal It

HuffingtonPost.com | Jennifer Bendery | Posted 03.28.2012

WASHINGTON -- It has been 16 years since Kathryn Lehman was a Republican Hill staffer working on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal law t...

Jennifer Bendery

Boehner Has Collected $742,000 For DOMA Defense, Top House Official Says

HuffingtonPost.com | Jennifer Bendery | Posted 03.28.2012

WASHINGTON -- Ever since House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) signed on last year to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court, it's been a my...

Jennifer Bendery

Boehner 'Will Continue To Respect' Law Against Same-Sex Marriage

HuffingtonPost.com | Jennifer Bendery | Posted 03.27.2012

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats on Monday took another shot at persuading House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) into dropping his legal support fo...

Is The Sexual Promiscuity Of Straight Men A Reason To Oppose Gay Marriage?

Kent Greenfield | Posted 05.23.2012

Kent Greenfield

I moderated a debate here at Boston College Law School offering a prominent opponent of gay marriage an opportunity to articulate why gay men and lesbians should not be permitted to wed. His key point: that straight men are too promiscuous to be trusted. Really.

Max J. Rosenthal

Military Gays Demand Greater Equality

HuffingtonPost.com | Max J. Rosenthal | Posted 03.20.2012

WASHINGTON -- At a campaign event in Maryland on Friday, President Barack Obama trumpeted the repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy as a signat...

There Can Be No Second-Class Service Members

Aubrey Sarvis | Posted 05.20.2012

Aubrey Sarvis

Commanders in the field are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with a two-tiered system of benefits and support for service members and their families. The colleagues of gay and lesbian military families are recognizing the inequalities and inherent unfairness of the status quo.