The Christian Post is reporting that the new bill, sponsored by Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), is aimed at overturning the 15 year-old DOMA that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples. Feinstein was one of just 14 senators who opposed DOMA when it passed both chambers of Congress in 1996 by huge margins.
The White House quickly issued a statement announcing the president's support of the bill. "This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples. The President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors."
Obama's support of the bill comes as no surprise. While stopping short of endorsing same-sex marriage, in February of this year he ordered the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA in federal court because he believed it was unconstitutional.
Senator Feinstein also believes DOMA has to be repealed and says the public is ready for a change. While speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday, she said: "I think eyes have opened. More and more people across this land know people who are gay, who want to have a lasting relationship, who look at marriage as an economic agreement as well as an emotional agreement."
But that's not what the numbers say. As Alliance Defense Fund lawyer Daniel Blomberg pointed out to the Christian Post, DOMA passed by wide margins in both houses of Congress and every state that held a referendum on the issue voted to uphold traditional marriage.
“This move by the president and certain members of congress is disappointing in that it is attacking that fundamental building block for our society. I see this as an attack on what 84 percent of Congress voted for in 1996 when they passed DOMA, and what 31 out of 31 states voted for when Americans had a chance to vote on this issue,” Blomberg said.
“Whether or not this is an endorsement [of gay marriage], which this seems to be very close to being, the fact is that the president is attacking what diverse cultures and faiths have recognized throughout history as the universal ideal, as the best way to promote healthy, natural families,” Blomberg said.
Feinstein, who is one of 27 co-sponsors supporting the bill, has openly admitted that passage of the Respect for Marriage Act is not likely to happen as long as Republicans maintain control of the House.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
Obama Supports New Bill To Repeal DOMA and Allow Same-Sex Marriage
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalisat
President Barack Obama has thrown his support behind the Respect for Marriage Act, being introduced in Congress today, which willrepeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and allow same-sex couples the same rights and legal protections as heterosexual couples.
The Christian Post is reporting that the new bill, sponsored by Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), is aimed at overturning the 15 year-old DOMA that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples. Feinstein was one of just 14 senators who opposed DOMA when it passed both chambers of Congress in 1996 by huge margins.
The White House quickly issued a statement announcing the president's support of the bill. "This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples. The President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors."
Obama's support of the bill comes as no surprise. While stopping short of endorsing same-sex marriage, in February of this year he ordered the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA in federal court because he believed it was unconstitutional.
Senator Feinstein also believes DOMA has to be repealed and says the public is ready for a change. While speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday, she said: "I think eyes have opened. More and more people across this land know people who are gay, who want to have a lasting relationship, who look at marriage as an economic agreement as well as an emotional agreement."
But that's not what the numbers say. As Alliance Defense Fund lawyer Daniel Blomberg pointed out to the Christian Post, DOMA passed by wide margins in both houses of Congress and every state that held a referendum on the issue voted to uphold traditional marriage.
“This move by the president and certain members of congress is disappointing in that it is attacking that fundamental building block for our society. I see this as an attack on what 84 percent of Congress voted for in 1996 when they passed DOMA, and what 31 out of 31 states voted for when Americans had a chance to vote on this issue,” Blomberg said.
“Whether or not this is an endorsement [of gay marriage], which this seems to be very close to being, the fact is that the president is attacking what diverse cultures and faiths have recognized throughout history as the universal ideal, as the best way to promote healthy, natural families,” Blomberg said.
Feinstein, who is one of 27 co-sponsors supporting the bill, has openly admitted that passage of the Respect for Marriage Act is not likely to happen as long as Republicans maintain control of the House.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
The Christian Post is reporting that the new bill, sponsored by Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), is aimed at overturning the 15 year-old DOMA that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples. Feinstein was one of just 14 senators who opposed DOMA when it passed both chambers of Congress in 1996 by huge margins.
The White House quickly issued a statement announcing the president's support of the bill. "This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples. The President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors."
Obama's support of the bill comes as no surprise. While stopping short of endorsing same-sex marriage, in February of this year he ordered the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA in federal court because he believed it was unconstitutional.
Senator Feinstein also believes DOMA has to be repealed and says the public is ready for a change. While speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday, she said: "I think eyes have opened. More and more people across this land know people who are gay, who want to have a lasting relationship, who look at marriage as an economic agreement as well as an emotional agreement."
But that's not what the numbers say. As Alliance Defense Fund lawyer Daniel Blomberg pointed out to the Christian Post, DOMA passed by wide margins in both houses of Congress and every state that held a referendum on the issue voted to uphold traditional marriage.
“This move by the president and certain members of congress is disappointing in that it is attacking that fundamental building block for our society. I see this as an attack on what 84 percent of Congress voted for in 1996 when they passed DOMA, and what 31 out of 31 states voted for when Americans had a chance to vote on this issue,” Blomberg said.
“Whether or not this is an endorsement [of gay marriage], which this seems to be very close to being, the fact is that the president is attacking what diverse cultures and faiths have recognized throughout history as the universal ideal, as the best way to promote healthy, natural families,” Blomberg said.
Feinstein, who is one of 27 co-sponsors supporting the bill, has openly admitted that passage of the Respect for Marriage Act is not likely to happen as long as Republicans maintain control of the House.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
