May 31, 2012
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DOMA ruled unconstitutional
In a giant step toward equality today, a federal appeals court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional.
The decision was clear: the law treats same-sex couples as second-class citizens – and that's a violation of fundamental rights.
But despite losing over and over again in court, House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are still planning to fight for DOMA all the way to the Supreme Court, if need be – dumping millions of taxpayer dollars into defending discrimination.
DOMA hurts our families. But Boehner and Cantor won't focus on repealing DOMA instead of continuing to defend it unless we rally right now – their decision to appeal today's ruling could come any hour, so we don't have much time to act.
Tell Boehner and Cantor: Not another taxpayer cent to attack the rights of loving same-sex couples.
President Obama ordered the Department of Justice to stop defending the DOMA case in court over a year ago. His leadership was critical to the progress we have made.
But Boehner and Cantor, reacting to the anti-LGBT fringe of their party, stepped in to use House resources – our taxpayer dollars – to make sure this terrible law was defended.
Even in a time when our federal budget is already strapped, they have committed up to $1.5 million taxpayer dollars to fight for this outdated law – and as this and other cases challenging DOMA continue, we could be looking at millions more.
The anti-gay House Republican leadership needs see the writing on the wall. Already a vast majority of Americans oppose DOMA and want it repealed. The House already has a bill before it – the Respect for Marriage Act – which would get rid of DOMA's discrimination once and for all.
This ruling marks a critical juncture in the battle for marriage equality. With enough voices speaking out, Boehner and Cantor will have no choice but to consider the cost of their continued defense of DOMA.
With continued pressure and hard work, we can make DOMA a thing of the past.
Comments (13)
i signed the letter/petition. thanks for posting the link.
yeah we can tell Boehner and Cantor all sorts of shit, --- they SHRUG!
I'll sign the petitions anyway.
This is the main reason I really believe we NEED Obama for a second term... there's a very likely chance that he'll need to appoint two new Justices. And considering the political climate right now, they'll be making decisions on everything from gay rights to teaching intelligent design in schools to overturning Roe v. Wade.
I like Boehner and Republicans like him, but I just can't understand the bigotry against gay marriage. I am so with you on this. And I am so happy to hear this news. DOMA IS BULL SHizZLE
@GodlessLiberal - Yeah. And things would have been so different if Gore won in 2000, and Roberts & Alito didn't shift the balance towards the conservatives on the bench.
People like Boehner and all that actively work towards taking rights away from certain people, effectively making them into 2nd class citizens are beneath my contempt. They disgust me.
Rec'd and signed.
I signed it but this is the second time today I would have contributed, (to this and to the Obama Campaign) if only they would let me pay through paypal. They are losing out.
This proves that our politicians don't give a rats ass about the constitution. There JOB is to defend the constitution! They should be JAILED for being traitors!!!
I want personal revenge on all these doma fucks!
Anyhow this is good news
Thanks for posting, I signed it! I live so far under a rock that I hadn't heard the news! This is great though! Too bad we can't celebrate in GSA because we just had our last meeting of the year!
Thanks for posting this! I was going to post about this myself but I have like no active subscribers so it probably wouldn't have gotten seen. I've signed! Hopefully when this goes to the Supreme Court they agree with the appeals court.
@In_Reason_I_Trust - What he said.@brown_buffalo - Good point. Paypal is most convenient.