The Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 federal law that allows states to not recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages and actually requires the federal government not to recognize them, is the new target of a group of House democrats. The three Democrats (if you live on the West Side one of them is your Congressman Jerrold Nadler) have introduced the Respect for Marriage act, which would repeal the DOMA.
If passed, the bill would require the federal government to recognize any marriage considered valid in whichever state it was entered into. Currently, same-sex marriages, even in the five states which currently provide for them, cannot be recognized by the federal government for immigration and social security benefits purposes. The Respect for Marriage act would require the federal government to recognize these marriages for any federal purposes.
Progressive have been disappointed by President Obama who, despite having criticized the DOMA during the 2008 campaign, actually defended the act in federal court. Adding to the new bill’s troubles, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank, the only openly gay Congressman, are conspicuously absent from its list of 90 co-sponsors. Pelosi, in particular, has expressed doubt that the bill could pass through Congress anytime soon. If you would like your views heard on the Respect for Marriage act, send an e-mail to your House and Senate representatives.
