Defense of Marriage Act

Obama Won't Push Equal Rights Law in the Right Direction

Emma Ruby-Sachs | Posted 12.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Law, Ronald Reagan, Doma, Rule of Law, George W. Bush, President Obama, Obama Administration, Obama, Judge Alex Kozinski, California Same Sex Marriage, Gay, Defense of Marriage Act, Barack Obama, Same-Sex Marriage, Gay Rights, Richard Nixon, Federal Health Benefits, Gay Marriage, Gay Issues, Extraordinary Rendition, Politics News
Emma Ruby-Sachs

While the Obama administration pretends that the law is a concrete inflexible animal incapable of multiple interpretations, LGBT rights in this country continue to languish. Strong leadership is needed.

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Out and About: LGBT Legal -- A Message to 38 NY State Senators: Shame On You

Lisa A. Linsky | Posted 12.10.2009 | New York

Read More: Lgbt, Human Rights, LGBT Issues, New York Gay Marriage, LGBT Rights, Defense of Marriage Act, Gay Marriage, Same-Sex Marriage, New York News
Lisa A. Linsky

What do I tell my daughter about these injustices, and now the actions of the 38 New York State Senators who had no compunction relegating me and my family to something less than other families?

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GOP Purity Test: Republican Party's Version of the Longest Suicide Note in History

Kara Vallow | Posted 12.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Mark Foley, Womens Rights, Ronald Reagan, John Ensign, David Vitter, Republican Purity Test, Women and Politics, Gop Purity Resolution, Gop, Purity Balls, Larry Craig, Defense of Marriage Act, Gop Purity Test, Politics News
Kara Vallow

You can tell the sun is setting on a once-great political party when it starts issuing angry, demonizing mission statements that seem deliberately devised to alienate as many moderate voters as possible.

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Gay Married Couples Suing The Government Over DOMA

AP | DENISE LAVOIE | Posted 11.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Gay Rights Movement, Doma Lawsuit, Gay Rights, Defense of Marriage Act, Doma, Obama Gay Rights, Obama Doma, Gay Marriage, Doma Repeal, Same-Sex Marriage, Politics News

BOSTON — Gay married couples suing the government over a federal law that doesn't recognize same-sex unions say there is "no legitimate or plaus...

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Obama and LGBT Rights: A Year Since Election Day

Emma Ruby-Sachs | Posted 11.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: President Obama, Obama, Gay, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Defense of Marriage Act, Maine, Lgbt, California Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Obama LGBT, One Year Later, Maine Gay Marriage, LGBT Rights, Dont Ask Dont Tell, Gay Marriage, Politics News
Emma Ruby-Sachs

Looking back on a year of LGBT rights activism under the Obama umbrella, I wonder just how much we have done to make LGBT rights a priority for Americans. The president himself has done little.

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Genesio Oliveira, Gay Brazilian Married To Massachusetts Man, Is Denied Asylum

AP | RUSSELL CONTRERAS | Posted 10.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Asylum Seekers, Tim Coco, John Kerry, Attorney General, Obama Administration, Doma, Asylum, Justice Department, Defense of Marriage Act, Genesio Oliveira, Eric Holder, Politics News

BOSTON — A gay Brazilian man has been denied asylum by the Obama administration and won't be reunited with his Massachusetts husband in the U.S....

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Time to Repeal DOMA

Sen. Arlen Specter | Posted 10.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Repeal of DOMA, Doma, Gay Marriage, Defense of Marriage Act, Same-Sex Marriage, Politics News
Sen. Arlen Specter

Enacted 13 years ago when the idea of same sex marriage was struggling for acceptance, the Defense of Marriage Act is a relic of a more tradition-bound time and culture.

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Homophobia: Healing It From The Inside Out

Jason Mannino | Posted 10.23.2009 | Living

Read More: Government, Lgbt, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, LGBT Issues, Gay Hendricks, Doma, Enda, Homophobia, LGBT Rights, Dadt, Gay, Defense of Marriage Act, Byron Katie, Living News
Jason Mannino

We still live in a world where too many LGBT people have unconsciously held onto the poisonous, negative beliefs about sexual orientation that our society, churches, and government still force feed us.

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Marriage Rights Should Not Be Determined By Popular Opinion

Fred Silberberg | Posted 10.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: Jim Crow, Tyranny-of-the-Majority, Constitutional Law, Equal Protection, Discrimination, Full-Faith-and-Credit-Clause, Minority, Constitution, Separation of Church and State, Defense of Marriage Act, Gay Marriage, Marriage Equality, Activist Judges, Inside DC, Politics News
Fred Silberberg

Allowing marriage to become the subject of a popular opinion poll, as has taken place in this country, disturbs the very principles upon which this nation was founded.

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The Nobel Prize Wasn't for Obama -- It Was for the American People. Do We Deserve It?

Jonathan Kim | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Bush, Nobel Peace Prize, Barack Obama, Liberals, Afghanistan, Progressives, Guantanamo, Torture, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Doma, Dadt, Defense of Marriage Act, Politics News
Jonathan Kim

That means it's our responsibility to force Obama and other electeds to recognize our priorities and pick up the pace. So call your representative and your senator, and let them know how you feel.

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Lady Gaga and Obama for Gay America

Michael Solis | Posted 10.15.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Same-Sex Marriagen, Lgbt, National Equality March, Defense of Marriage Act, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, Matthew Shepard, Lady GaGa, Human Rights Campaign, Barack Obama, Inside DC, Entertainment News
Michael Solis

For America's LGBT community last weekend, seeing both Lady Gaga and Obama teaming up to address the community's struggle for civil rights and equality was a welcome surprise.

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Obama Uses Well-Placed Jokes, Vague Promises To Cool Off The Gays

Julie Farby | Posted 10.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama Speech, HRC Dinner, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights, Gay Rights, Glbt, Barack Obama, Same-Sex Marriage, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Defense of Marriage Act, Politics News
Julie Farby

On Saturday night, President Barack Obama spoke at the Human Rights Campaign dinner, where he addressed all the ways he's failed to help the one community it's still OK to constitutionally neglect.

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NBC Reporter: Obama White House Views Gay Rights Protesters As 'Internet Left Fringe' (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post | Posted 10.12.2009 | Media

Read More: White House, Defense of Marriage Act, Civil Rights, Same Sex Marriage, Obama, Hrc, National Equality March, Dadt, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Nem, Gay Adoption, Lesbians, Doma, Gays, John Harwood, Media News

The White House believes protesters at Sunday's gay rights march in D.C. are part of the "internet left fringe," according to CNBC's Chief Washington ...

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Why Gays Can't Wait -- Gay Rights Are Civil Rights (VIDEO)

Jose Antonio Vargas | Posted 11.10.2009 | Politics

Read More: Human Rights Campaign, Gay Marriage, Barack Obama, Defense of Marriage Act, Politics News
Jose Antonio Vargas

If not now -- with a Democratic Congress in power, with a Democratic president who says "I'm here with you in that fight" -- then when? If not now, right now, then when?

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Obama's HRC Speech (VIDEO): President Obama Says He Will End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Posted 10.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: Doma, Lesbian, Transgendered, Obama, Human Rights Campaign, Gay, Obama Pledges, Gay Adoption, Defense of Marriage Act, Lgbt, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Video, Obama Speech, Gay Rights, Dadt, Obama Promises, Gay Speech, Hrc, Gay Marriage, Politics News

Watch President Obama's address at the Human Rights Campaign's banquet in Washington, D.C., Oct. 10. President Obama pledged to end the ban on homo...

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Obama HRC Speech: "I Will End Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Says President Obama

AP | CHRISTINE SIMMONS | Posted 10.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: Doma, Lesbian, Transgendered, Obama, Human Rights Campaign, Gay, Obama Pledges, Gay Adoption, Defense of Marriage Act, Lgbt, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Obama Speech, Gay Rights, Dadt, Obama Promises, Gay Speech, Hrc, Gay Marriage, Politics News

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama reaffirmed his campaign pledge to end the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military in a speech Satu...

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Barack Obama: America's First Gay President?

Timothy Patrick McCarthy | Posted 10.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Harvey Milk Presidential Medal of Freedom, White House Stonewall Rebellion, Lgbt, Gay Rights, Human Rights Campaign Dinner, Obama LGBT, LGBT Rights, Obama Gay Rights, Bill Clinton Gay Rights, Defense of Marriage Act, Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, Politics News
Timothy Patrick McCarthy

Election Day 2008 was one of the greatest days of my life: We finally had an ally in the White House who would fight with and for us. In retrospect, we were foolish to have such hope.

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The Civil Rights Test of Our Generation

Rep. Joe Sestak | Posted 10.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, Human Rights, President Obama, Dadt, Human Rights Campaign, Joe Sestak, Doma, Civil Rights, Defense of Marriage Act, Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, Marriage Equality, Pennsylvania, Politics News
Rep. Joe Sestak

It's time to end discrimination based on sexual identity or orientation. That's why I'm committed to equal rights for all Americans, and to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

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Obama's Big Gay Speech

Wayne Besen | Posted 10.08.2009 | Politics

Read More: Human Rights Campaign, Hrc, David Mixner, Wayne Besen, Barack Obama, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Obama HRC Speech, Glbt, National Equality March, Maine Gay Marriage, Saturday Night Live, Defense of Marriage Act, Big Gay Speech, Obama Big Gay Speech, Politics News
Wayne Besen

Let it be known that the GLBT community is no longer interested in being pals with the powerful or having the famous tell us we are fabulous -- unless it leads to action.

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Obama Administration Asks Court To Dismiss Another Challenge To Anti-Gay Marriage Law

AP | DENISE LAVOIE | Posted 11.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Defense of Marriage Act, Obama Gay Marriage, Doma, Obama Doj, Obama Doma, Gay Marriage, Politics News

BOSTON — The Department of Justice on Friday asked a federal judge in Boston to dismiss a lawsuit that claims a federal law defining marriage as...

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Coming Out for DOMA Repeal

Michael J. Wilson | Posted 11.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: LGBT Rights, Liberals, African Americans, Gay Marriage, Obama Doma, Doma, Defense of Marriage Act, Politics News
Michael J. Wilson

The notion that marriage is threatened by legally sanctioned relationships because of sexual orientation is patently absurd.

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Nadler To Introduce DOMA Repeal Bill Next Week

Advocate | Kerry Eleveld | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: States Rights, Doma, Defense of Marriage Act, Jerrold Nadler, Same-Sex Marriage, Politics News

Rep. Jerrold Nadler will introduce legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act next week. The Advocate has learned that Democratic representati...

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What Defines A Woman...And What Does California's Prop 8 Have To Do With Menopause?

Rebecca Booth, MD | Posted 09.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Intersex, Erectile Dysfunction, Prop 8, Gender Testing, Menopause, Turner's Syndrome, Procreation, Doma, Defense of Marriage Act, Same-Sex Marriage, Md, Rebecca Booth, Relationships, Sex, Love, Dr. Rebecca Booth, Living News
Rebecca Booth, MD

Recently I have held some interesting conversations stemming from the debate about California's Prop 8. Specifically, if the law defines the state of matrimony to be legal only between a man and a woman, how does the law define a man and a woman?

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The Unnoticed Effects of DOMA

Fred Silberberg | Posted 09.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Marriage, Divorce, Domestic Partnerships, Equal Rights, Obama, Spousal-Benefits, Full-Faith-and-Credit-Clause, Justice Department, Gay Marriage, Defense of Marriage Act, Marriage Equality, Same-Sex Marriage, Politics News
Fred Silberberg

Until DOMA is repealed, "Equal Justice Under Law," the inscription on the building which houses the United States Supreme Court, will have no meaning.

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Obama Talking Out of Both Sides of His Mouth on DOMA

Kase Wickman | Posted 09.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay and Lesbian Rights, Doma, Defense of Marriage Act, Barack Obama, Glbt, Politics News
Kase Wickman

The best Obama has been able to do for gay rights is file a brief that doesn't say that legalization of gay marriage leads to pedophilia. Congratulations, Mr. President!

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