Respect for Marriage Act to repeal DOMA introduced in U.S. House and Senate
WASHINGTON, March 16 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force applauds the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act, landmark legislation to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.) today announced the bill’s reintroduction in the House. And, for the first time, the legislation has been introduced in the Senate where it is championed by lead sponsors Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey attended today’s congressional press conferences announcing the bill.
The Respect for Marriage Act seeks to repeal DOMA, a 1996 law that targets legally married same-sex couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law, selectively denying them critical federal responsibilities and rights. Following the Obama administration’s recent announcement that it will no longer defend DOMA in court, House Republican leaders vowed to move to protect the discriminatory law.
Full article here:
http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/pr_af_031611