Nadler: Movement to repeal DOMA focusing on building Support in Congress

AMERICAblog Gay
December 11, 2009
Rep. Jerrold Nadler has said that sponsorship of a bill to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act will not occur in Congress next year. Instead, he said, efforts will be focused on building support on the issue. [Link]

Op-Ed: Democrats: If You Are NOT on This List Then Not One Penny!

DavidMixner.com
October 19, 2009
David Mixner compiles a list of all of the congressional supporters of the Respect for Marriage Act and calls for the LGBT community to withhold money from those who are not on the list: "Every Democrat must join this list and we must remain firm to not contribute to anyone who doesn't support this effort to repeal DOMA....even our friends." [Link]

President Obama's Maine Chance to Make the Case

Huffington Post
October 7, 2009
Evan Wolfson writes:

"When President Obama speaks to gay and non-gay supporters of equality at the Human Rights Campaign's dinner this Saturday, he has a lot of ground to cover...By ground to cover, I mean that President Obama has the opportunity -- and I believe the obligation -- to speak in moral as well as concrete terms about non-gay people's stake in ending the exclusion and discrimination gay people endure. President Obama should not just talk about his general support for equality, and even just specific items he is working on, but, in addition, needs to make the case as to why Americans must continue evolving in support of fairness and freedom, and why anti-gay discrimination must end...

President Obama has the perfect context in which to make that case: a clear and unequivocal call on the people of Maine to vote no in November on the anti-gay ballot measure aimed at undoing the freedom to marry enacted earlier this year."

(Link)

No on 1/Protect Maine Equality needs your help today!

California Democrats Target DOMA

McClatchy Newspapers
October 2, 2009
The idea of repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is gaining plenty of momentum among California Democrats. In the House, 22 of them -- including Sacramento's Doris Matsui -- are among the 97 co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) introduced two weeks ago by New York Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler that would dump DOMA. [Link]

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley Sends Letter to Congress Supporting the Respect for Marriage Act

Office of Mssachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley
September 25, 2009
The Respect for Marriage Act, which is sponsored by Congressmen Jerrold Nadler of New York and has 91 co-sponsors, seeks to fully repeal all three sections of DOMA, including Section 3 which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and is currently the subject of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Coakley’s Office in July 2009. “I applaud the legislative efforts to take direct action to repeal DOMA and fully support this bill because it addresses the failings of the law head-on." [Link]

Voice for Equality: David Hoffman

David Hoffman served as Chicago's Inspector General from October, 2005 until August, 2009, when he resigned from his Inspector General post to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Roland Burris. He joined a thin field of Democratic candidates pursuing the seat including Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson. The likely GOP candidate will be Mark Kirk. To learn more [Link]

On September 21, 2009, Hoffman's office issued the following statement in support of marriage equality to the Chicago Tribune:

David Hoffman does not believe the government should intrude or discriminate on the question of who people decide to marry and spend the rest of their lives together. It's an issue of equality and fundamental fairness and all people -- regardless of sexual orientation -- should be provided the same protection under the law.

David also supports the Respect for Marriage Act bill to repeal DOMA. As a matter of constitutional law, a contract entered into in one state should be honored by all states. Just as the sanctity of opposite sex marriages in a state are honored by other states, so should the marriages of same sex couples. Without this protection, opposite sex couples can file a joint tax form and receive a tax benefit. Under present law, same sex couples can't. That's wrong. It's discrimination. And the bill to repeal the law should be adopted by congress and signed into law by President Obama, who supports the measure. [Link]

Freedom to Marry salutes David Hoffman as a Voice for Equality!

If you're inspired by Mr. Hoffman's support...why not get involved? Link to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality to find out how you can help with the vital work of preserving marriage equality in Maine!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer is an American politician and lawyer from the state of Oregon. A native of Portland, he spent over 20 years as a public official representing the city before winning election to the United States House of Representatives in 1996. A Democrat, he represents Oregon's 3rd congressional district which includes most of Portland east of the Willamette River.

In conjunction with the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) by Rep. Jerrold Nadler on September 15, 2009, Rep. Earl Blumenauer wrote a piece on the Huffington Post opening with the line, "On July 12, 1996, I cast the worst vote of my political career," - referring to his vote for the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act." Among his other comments in the piece:

I long ago recognized and acknowledged the mistake I made, and I have spent time understanding the problems in my thinking and analysis. It has resulted in frank and important conversations with many gay and lesbian friends, and if anything it has strengthened my commitment to the cause of banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and has made me a better lawmaker. I will work to make sure that my colleagues who once, for whatever reason, joined me in supporting this ill-advised measure [the Defense of Marriage Act] take this opportunity to correct their record and eliminate an injustice. [Link]

Freedom to Marry salutes Congressman Earl Blumenauer as a Voice for Equality!

If you're inspired by Congressman Blumenauer's words and support...why not get involved? Link to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality to find out how you can help with the vital work of preserving marriage equality in Maine!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Richard Socarides: Clinton's Change on DOMA Could Affect Supreme Court

The Advocate
September 28, 2009
Richard Socarides, a special assistant and LGBT adviser to Bill Clinton during his administration, says Clinton's remarks to Anderson Cooper on Friday about changing his mind on DOMA could help create a shift in the political winds that might reach the courts. [Link]

U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director, John Berry: Passing ENDA Key to DOMA Repeal

The Washington Blade
September 28, 2009
The highest-ranking openly gay appointee in Obama's administration is encouraging LGBT Americans to make passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act their No. 1 priority and said its success would place within reach other civil rights goals, including the repeals of Don't Ask Don't Tell and DOMA. [Link]

Text of Respect for Marriage Act

Scribd
September 15, 2009

Respect for Marriage Act (9 14 09 for INTRO)

The Respect for Marriage Act of 2009: What is it and what will it do?

Lambda Legal

September 15, 2009

An overview of questions and answers regarding the Respect for Marriage Act. [Link]

Vermont Congressman Peter Welch: Repealing DOMA is a Matter of Fairness

Times Argus (Vermont)
September 17, 2009
U.S. Representative Peter Welch is one of 90 House Democrats supporting a repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Welch says the issue comes down to state's rights. Before DOMA was passed, marriage was left up to individual states to decide. With the introduction of the act, the federal government interfered with that historic right. "Repealing DOMA will put us back on the track that we were on for hundreds of years," he said. [Link]

Op-Ed: Without marriage equality, there is no equality

Aurora Sentinel (Colorado)
September 16, 2009
After years of discrimination, the United States is ready to join the rest of the enlightened, democratic world and finally stand behind the country’s long withheld promise of equality. As Americans, we should be able to choose our companions regardless of their race, social status, income level, religious background or something as personal as sexual orientation. [Link]

Video: Introduction of Respect for Marriage Act to Repeal DOMA

youtube.com
September 15, 2009
Rep. Jerrold Nadler holds a press conference to announce the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act. This legislation would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). [Link]

Politicians Changing Their Tune on DOMA

The Advocate
September 16, 2009
In agreement with the freshly-minted Respect for Marriage Act, President Clinton, Bob Barr and seven sitting members of Congress who supported DOMA now oppose it. So why the about-face? [Link]

Legislators Seek Repeal of Federal Marriage Law

San Francisco Chronicle
September 16, 2009
Unhappy with the piecemeal approach to marriage equality adopted by some Democratic leaders, over 90 House Representatives, led by Rep Jerrold Nadler and including Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee, introduced a bill Tuesday to repeal the central federal law (DOMA) governing the freedom to marry. [Link]

Evan Wolfson: Respect for Marriage Act Introduced in Congress: Time to Dump "DOMA"

The Huffington Post
September 16, 2009
Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, explains the significance of yesterday's introduction of the Respect for Marrage Act:

Six states so far, have ended gay couples' exclusion from marriage...and Americans have seen that ending that exclusion from marriage helps families and harms no one... If we do the work of enlisting more Representatives and Senators to fulfill President Obama's pledge to repeal 'DOMA,' we can pass the Respect for Marriage Act. Now is the time. [Link]

Photo: Evan Wolfson and Tammy Baldwin Look on as Jerrold Nadler Introduces Respect for Marriage Act

A crowd of seasoned LGBT advocates including Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry and Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, looks on as Representative Jerrold Nadler introduces the Respect for Marriage Act in Washington D.C. on September 15, 2009. Text of Section 3 of the bill:

For the purposes of any Federal law in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual's marriage is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. [Link]

Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenau: Proudly Changing My Position on DOMA

Huffington Post
September 15, 2009
Rep. Earl Blumenau explains "the worst vote of my political career" which he cast on July 12, 1996 in favor of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and why he will now - as a co-sponsor of Jerrold Nadler's RMA legislation introduced yesterday - "work to make sure that my colleagues...take this opportunity to correct their record and eliminate an injustice. [Link]

The Respect for Marriage Act Garners Support of Over 90 Co-Sponsors, President Clinton, and Former Rep. Bob Barr, DOMA’s Original Author

Office of Congressman Jerrold Nadler
September 15, 2009
Today's introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act has already gained key support:

Today, following the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), the legislation has already gained key support from important corners. Among the bill’s backers are former President Bill Clinton, who signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law in 1996, and former Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA), who first introduced DOMA. They join the dozens of civil rights organizations and 91 original co-sponsors of the bill who are pushing for a full repeal of DOMA.

Today, President Clinton said: “I want to thank Congressman Nadler for hisleadership on this issue, and Reps. Baldwin, Polis, Conyers, Lewis, Velazquez and Lee, for introducing the Respect for Marriage Act in the House of Representatives. Throughout my life I have opposed discrimination of any kind. When the Defense of Marriage Act was passed, gay couples could not marry anywhere in the United States or the world for that matter. Thirteen years later, the fabric of our country has changed, and so should this policy.”

Today, Bob Barr said: “I join with former President Bill Clinton in commending Rep. Jerry Nadler for introducing the ‘Respect for Marriage Act of 2009.’ This legislation would strengthen the principle that each state is free to set the definition of marriage the citizens of that state have adopted. Rep. Nadler’s legislation would also repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, and by so doing, remove the federal government from involving itself in matters of defining ‘marriage,’ which historically and according to principles of federalism, are properly state matters and not federal.”