Senate hearing Wednesday on repealing anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act
Wed. July 20, 2011 7:01 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Washington, D.C. -
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on repealing the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act; the White House said that President Obama supports the repeal.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and 28 other Democratic co-sponsors are pushing the "Respect for Marriage Act," which would require that legally married gay and lesbian couples be treated the same way as straight married couples under federal law.
On Tuesday, White House spokesperson Jay Carney said that President Obama supports repeal.
"I can tell you that the President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors," Carney said. He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act, which would take DOMA off the books once and for all. This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.
The co-sponsors are Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and 28 other Democratic co-sponsors are pushing the "Respect for Marriage Act," which would require that legally married gay and lesbian couples be treated the same way as straight married couples under federal law.
On Tuesday, White House spokesperson Jay Carney said that President Obama supports repeal.
"I can tell you that the President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors," Carney said. He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act, which would take DOMA off the books once and for all. This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.
The co-sponsors are Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).