Nadler Introduces the Respect for Marriage Act which would repeal DOMA

September 15, 2009

Rep. 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), a 1996 law which discriminates against lawfully married same-sex couples and denies them equal protection and rights under federal law.

Attending the event were Members of Congress, including Reps. Baldwin, Polis, Conyers, and Lee, as well as representatives of groups such as the ACLU, the Human Rights Campaign, and Lambda Legal.

From the press release:

"The 13-year-old DOMA singles out legally married same-sex couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law, selectively denying them critical federal responsibilities and rights, including programs like social security that are intended to ensure the stability and security of American families.

The Respect for Marriage Act, the consensus of months of planning and organizing among the nations leading LGBT and civil rights stakeholders and legislators, would ensure that valid marriages are respected under federal law, providing couples with much-needed certainty that their lawful marriages will be honored under federal law and that they will have the same access to federal responsibilities and rights as all other married couples.

The Respect of Marriage Act would accomplish this by repealing DOMA in its entirety and by adopting the place-of-celebration rule recommended in the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act, which embraces the common law principle that marriages that are valid in the state where they were entered into will be recognized. While this rule governs recognition of marriage for purposes of federal law, marriage recognition under state law would continue to be decided by each state.

The Respect for Marriage Act would not tell any state who can marry or how married couples must be treated for purposes of state law, and would not obligate any person, church, city or state to celebrate or license a marriage of two people of the same sex. It would merely restore the approach historically taken by states of determining, under principles of comity and Full Faith and Credit, whether to honor a couples marriage for purposes of state law.

Supporters of DOMA argued in 1996 that the law is necessary to promote family structures that are best for children, but every credible medical, social science and child welfare organization has concluded that same-sex couples are equal parents. Married gay and lesbian couples pay taxes, serve their communities and raise children like other couples. Their contributions and needs are no different from those of their neighbors. The Respect for Marriage Act would ensure that couples who assume the serious legal duties of marriage are treated fairly under federal law.

The introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act responds directly to a call from President Obama for Congressional action on the issue. As the President recently confirmed: I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Its discriminatory, it interferes with States rights, and its time we overturned it."

Read the full release at
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny08_nadler/repealDOMA091509.html

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Jerrold
• Nadler;
• Jerry
• Respect
• for
• Marriage
• Act;
• LGBT;
• Gay
• Rights;
• DOMA;
• Defense
• of
• equality;
• Human
• Rights
• Campaign;
• Lambda
• Legal;
• ACLU;

[nicksum29]

I am shocked that a country like America is still so backward when it comes to minority rights.

[greekmathician]

I'm so happy that gay married people are going to get the same federal rights heterosexual couples get. Finally equality is going to come to some parts of the country.

[r1skate]

DOMA rules!

[PAgrad1]

psxwarrior makes a good point: A strong separation of all religion and the State! A strong steel separation.

There is no room for superstition or religious fanaticism in our democracy. It stifles freedom.

All Churches should pay taxes since they are Lobbyists. No State regulated marriages. Anyone should be able to partner with whom they feel. Take In God We Trust off the money, out of the Courtroom and out of the classroom. It confuses the children and makes hypocrites of their parents.

[psxwarrior]

Well, that's why the government should get its greasy hands out of marriage all together. They ruin everything they get their hands on. I can't marry my girlfriend because of them. Long story.

[cdw763]

...but the United States is set up to separate church and state. You pick your religion/belief system (or none- that's okay too) and that works for you. Just don't force it on anyone else or stand in his or her way. Besides, if someone wants to live a 'condemed' life, why are you standing in their way? Do you know what's best for him/her? If folks are old enough to marry, they're old enough to decide who they want to sleep with!

[psxwarrior]

I know who I won't be voting for for president. I'm sorry, but the Bible condemns homosexuality. God says one man and one woman. Their is no such thing as gay marriage. States have no right to confir what God has not instituted.

[TheTwohusbands]

We two husbands, Americans together in love 33 years, and married in Canada in 2003, congratulate everyone for respecting our marriage as much as we do!!!

[SpeedyBruin]

Thank you congressman. You have my respect.

[greekmathician]

What a great name for the bill Respect for Marriage Act!!! That's exactly what this bill does. It gives the respect married gay couples deserve where they are permitted to wed.