doma

...now browsing by tag

USA: Boehner Takes Heat From Both Sides on DOMA Defense

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

House speaker John Boehner is being criticized from both sides over his defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

On Monday, House sponsors of a bill which would repeal the 1996 law which defines marriage as a heterosexual union for federal agencies filed a third request with Boehner’s office asking for members to be briefed on the status of the defense.

“[W]e have long believed that DOMA is unconstitutional,” the letter states. “There simply is no legitimate federal interest served by denying married same-sex couples the federal responsibilities and rights that other married couples receive, and the harm caused to these families is unjustifiable. Two federal courts have agreed, and it is no longer credible to claim that the law is not constitutionally suspect.”

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook. We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Responses »
Tags: defense, doma, house speaker, john boehner, united states

Gay Man to President Obama: Please Don’t Deport My Husband

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Another awful story of a married binational gay couple, Brian and Alfonso (together for 10 years), hit with the threat of being deported under DOMA. Alfonso hasn’t lived in Mexico for 20 years and is being threatened with deportation.

In a post at Stop the Deportations, Brian writes about a particularly awful recent episode:

Our life was on a happy, albeit somewhat boringly ordinary, trajectory until one fateful night last summer. That night and the events that followed have brought me to a whole new level of understanding about how precarious Alfonso’s life had been up to this point. That night we were pulled over for a routine traffic stop. The local law enforcement did their regular background checks and that is when the train went off of the proverbial rails. You see, the local authorities have been conscripted by the federal government in a weird, Orwellian, 1984, Big-Brother sort of way so that now the local authorities are forced to send information directly to federal agencies.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay wedding resources.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: deportation, doma, gay couple, married, mexico, president obama

US: More Legislators Co-Sponsor DOMA Repeal Bill

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

A bill which seeks to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) continues to attract new co-sponsors.

The law, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, defines marriage as a heterosexual union for federal agencies and allows states to ignore gay marriages performed in other states. DOMA bars legally married gay and lesbian couples from accessing federal benefits, including Social Security and pensions.

…

The latest House members to endorse the legislation are Representatives Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, Hansen Clarke of Michigan and Steve Cohen of Tennessee. The total number of co-sponsors in the House and Senate are 140 and 31, respectively.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: co-sponsors, defense of marriage act, doma, repeal, usa

DC: Boehner to Intervene in Troops’ DOMA Lawsuit?

Saturday, March 10th, 2012

A Republican-led House panel may intervene as soon as next week against litigation that aims to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act on the grounds that it unfairly prohibits gay troops from obtaining benefits for their same-sex spouses.

The litigation, known as McLaughlin v. Panetta, was filed on behalf of gay troops and veterans by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and Chadbourne & Parke LLC. It’s pending before the District Court of Massachusetts.

Christopher Man, counsel at Chadbourne & Parke LLC, told the Blade via email on Saturday he believes the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, led by House Speaker John Boehner, is “likely to intervene soon, possibly as soon as next week” and plaintiffs will oppose the intervention.

Full Story from The Washington Blade

Click here for gay wedding resources.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: doma, gop, john boehner, lawsuit, troops

Federal Judge Rules DOMA Unconstitutional

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Another day, another victory for equality. Today, Judge Jeffrey White, a George W. Bush appointee to the federal bench, declared the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional as it applied to Karen Golinski.

Ms. Golinski is a married lesbian who wishes to put her wife on the health plan she gets through her employer, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. But, by declaring that federal law only recognizes opposite sex marriages, DOMA Section 3 prevents her from doing this, something that every heterosexual married federal employee can do. Also, you may recall, President Obama refused to defend DOMA in this case, ceding that role to Republicans in the House.

Today’s decision in Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management is notable for a number reason, not the least of which is its role as the latest nail in DOMA’s coffin.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay wedding resources.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: defense of marriage, doma, federal judge, marriage equality, ruling

NM: DOMA Bill Defeated

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

New Mexico State Representative David Chavez’ HJR-22, aka Super-DOMA, has been defeated. Sorry for the delay on this, but confirmation finally did come through that the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee effectively killed the measure. The session is now over, and the bill dead for this year.

Equality New Mexico stated “Thanks to those of you who wrote emails, made phone calls, and attended yesterday’s committee meeting to support New Mexico’s families and oppose this discriminatory piece of legisaltion.”

Full Story from Lez Get Real

Click here for gay wedding resources in New Mexico.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: defeated, doma, new mexico

DOMA and Prop 8: An Analysis

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Meanwhile, at the Legion of Doom… the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is dying a slow death from a thousand cuts. The Ninth Circuit’s decision in Perry v. Brown is a great victory and a fine statement for equality, but so was Judge Tauro’s decision in Gill v. OPM, the Justice Department’s brief in Golinski v. OPM, and the Obama Administration’s refusal to defend DOMA because it fails the heightened scrutiny test the President thinks is appropriate for judging any state action that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.

That begs the question: Which case — Gill or Perry — would be a better vehicle for advancing the cause of gay rights at the Supreme Court? And, why?

AFTER THE JUMP, I try to think like a lawyer and a legal strategist and consider the questions up for review, the political context, and the positives and negatives of a progressive or traditionalist decision. I argue that though Gill offers the tidiest and least politically risky case for the current Supreme Court, the narrow holding in Perry opens a clear avenue for victory.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: doma, marriage equality, prop 8, supreme court

NM: Anti Gay Politician Reintroduces Anti Marriage Equality Bill

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Well here is a nice how-do-you-do. Apparently, Representative Devid Chavez has reintroduced his super-DOMA bill today after pulling it from consideration just before it was set to go before the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee. With time ticking down to the end of the session, Chavez has decided to use Valentine’s Day as his day to pull this.

The HCPAC heard the bill at 8:30 AM.

Full Story from Lez Get Real.

Click here for gay wedding resources in New Mexico.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: bill, dnti gay marriage, doma, new mexico

US: New Coalition Launched to Repeal DOMA

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

A broad coalition of more than 50 civil rights, labor, progressive, faith, student, health, legal, women’s, and LGBT organizations on Thursday announced support of the Respect for Marriage Act– the bill to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that withholds federal protections for legally married gay and lesbian couples.

The group, led by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Freedom to Marry, “has come forward to urge members of Congress to end the unfairness,” said said Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry.

“Because of the ‘gay exception’ created by DOMA, America’s legally married gay and lesbian couples – including service members risking their lives on the front lines for our safety – are treated as strangers under federal law, rather than provided the respect and protections federal law normally assures to married couples and their loved ones,” said Wolfson, in a statement.

Full Story from LGBTQ Nation

Click here for gay wedding resources.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: coalition, defense of marriage act, doma, repeal

Southern Poverty Law Center Files Lawsuit Against DOMA

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act. They have filed the suit on behalf of Tracey Cooper-Harris, who served in the US Army for twelve years. She received multiple commendations while in the military. She is also married. . .to a woman. This means that she does not get the same disability benefits as heterosexual veterans.

The suit challenges the constitutionality of DOMA as well as the law that governs the Department of Veterans Affairs policy on these matters.

Severicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis welcomed the lawsuit. The Army veteran stated “SLDN welcomes today’s filing by the Southern Poverty Law Center and looks forward to coordinating in any way they deem appropriate. We have worked with the plaintiff, Tracey Cooper-Harris, in the past, and we believe that her case is compelling. This filing today advances the cause of equality for gay and lesbian service members and veterans.”