Reaction to the Internal Revenue Service's announcement that it would recognize the marriages of gay and lesbian couples came swiftly on Thursday.
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement that its "ruling assures legally married same-sex couples that they can move freely throughout the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change."
Supporters cheered the news, which came two months after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the law that prohibited federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay couples.
"With today's ruling, committed and loving gay and lesbian couples will now be treated equally under our nation's federal tax laws, regardless of what state they call home," said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT rights advocate.
Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, added in an emailed statement: "This announcement makes today a day of celebration and relief for married same-sex couples all over America. At long last, the IRS will treat them as what they are: married. Freedom to Marry commends the administration's swift implementation of the Supreme Court's landmark ruling for federal equality in an area that will have a direct, tangible impact on families' financial health."
"The fact that this new respect applies only to married couples – not those joined by domestic partnerships or civil unions – highlights the need for an America where everyone can marry the person they love in any state, and have that marriage respected at all levels of government."
The Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC) said that it was "displeased" with the announcement.
"State family policies have been undermined today by the Obama administration," FRC's Chris Gacek said in a statement. "The federal government should not, as Kennedy stated in his opinion for the majority in U.S. v. Windsor, 'put a thumb on the scales and influence a state's decision as to how to shape its own marriage laws.' We disagree with this interpretation of Windsor and are displeased to see the Obama administration's lack of respect for state marriage laws."
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement that its "ruling assures legally married same-sex couples that they can move freely throughout the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change."
Supporters cheered the news, which came two months after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the law that prohibited federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay couples.
"With today's ruling, committed and loving gay and lesbian couples will now be treated equally under our nation's federal tax laws, regardless of what state they call home," said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT rights advocate.
Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, added in an emailed statement: "This announcement makes today a day of celebration and relief for married same-sex couples all over America. At long last, the IRS will treat them as what they are: married. Freedom to Marry commends the administration's swift implementation of the Supreme Court's landmark ruling for federal equality in an area that will have a direct, tangible impact on families' financial health."
"The fact that this new respect applies only to married couples – not those joined by domestic partnerships or civil unions – highlights the need for an America where everyone can marry the person they love in any state, and have that marriage respected at all levels of government."
The Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC) said that it was "displeased" with the announcement.
"State family policies have been undermined today by the Obama administration," FRC's Chris Gacek said in a statement. "The federal government should not, as Kennedy stated in his opinion for the majority in U.S. v. Windsor, 'put a thumb on the scales and influence a state's decision as to how to shape its own marriage laws.' We disagree with this interpretation of Windsor and are displeased to see the Obama administration's lack of respect for state marriage laws."
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine
