Two Democratic Senators Refuse to Support DOMA repeal
The message from Democrats (including openly gay Rep. Barney Frank) is that the 111th Congress will pass trans-inclusive hate crimes and employment non-discrimination legislation, will pass domestic partner benefits for federal employees, and will repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell. All this if we're lucky.
Noticeably absent from this civil rights agenda is the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. Apparently a Democratic majority in the House, a Democratic super-majority in the Senate, and a Democratic president in the White House isn't quite enough to get a repeal passed. Of course, other major issues are confronting the nation, and issues dealing with same-sex marriage often bring with them volatile politics. But, with the prospect of trimmed Democratic majorities in Congress after the 2010 midterm elections, is it really unreasonable for the LGBT community to expect action on DOMA now, as opposed to potentially a decade from now, maybe later?
The national mood seems favorable to a DOMA repeal. A majority of Americans support civil unions for same-sex couples and a DOMA repeal deals primarily with granting civil rights to already-married same-sex couples, not with creating new marriage designations. And with same-sex marriage sweeping New England and even becoming legal in Iowa, the momentum and the need for federal rights for married same-sex couples has never been greater. This is especially true as Washington, DC, New York, and New Jersey seem poised to legalize same-sex marriage before year's end.
President Obama has spoken of his commitment to repeal DOMA, but he has not given any timelines for how or when this will happen. In Congress, a DOMA repeal was introduced in the House in mid-September with many, including Rep. Frank, expressing skepticism that Congress had the votes to pass it. The repeal bill does have the support of the two other openly gay members of Congress, Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Rep. Jared Polis - both are signed on as cosponsors.
Whether or not a DOMA repeal passes in this legislative session (i.e. before the 2010 midterm elections) is going to be up to the LGBT community and its allies and the pressure they are able to exert on President Obama and Congress. The House bill to repeal DOMA has 101 cosponsors to date (Rep. Jerrold Nadler introduced the bill). The rest of the Democrats in the House are silent on the issue. No bill has been introduced in the Senate and this is the pathetic support we get from Democrats there...
by: Dable post
Noticeably absent from this civil rights agenda is the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. Apparently a Democratic majority in the House, a Democratic super-majority in the Senate, and a Democratic president in the White House isn't quite enough to get a repeal passed. Of course, other major issues are confronting the nation, and issues dealing with same-sex marriage often bring with them volatile politics. But, with the prospect of trimmed Democratic majorities in Congress after the 2010 midterm elections, is it really unreasonable for the LGBT community to expect action on DOMA now, as opposed to potentially a decade from now, maybe later?
The national mood seems favorable to a DOMA repeal. A majority of Americans support civil unions for same-sex couples and a DOMA repeal deals primarily with granting civil rights to already-married same-sex couples, not with creating new marriage designations. And with same-sex marriage sweeping New England and even becoming legal in Iowa, the momentum and the need for federal rights for married same-sex couples has never been greater. This is especially true as Washington, DC, New York, and New Jersey seem poised to legalize same-sex marriage before year's end.
President Obama has spoken of his commitment to repeal DOMA, but he has not given any timelines for how or when this will happen. In Congress, a DOMA repeal was introduced in the House in mid-September with many, including Rep. Frank, expressing skepticism that Congress had the votes to pass it. The repeal bill does have the support of the two other openly gay members of Congress, Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Rep. Jared Polis - both are signed on as cosponsors.
Whether or not a DOMA repeal passes in this legislative session (i.e. before the 2010 midterm elections) is going to be up to the LGBT community and its allies and the pressure they are able to exert on President Obama and Congress. The House bill to repeal DOMA has 101 cosponsors to date (Rep. Jerrold Nadler introduced the bill). The rest of the Democrats in the House are silent on the issue. No bill has been introduced in the Senate and this is the pathetic support we get from Democrats there...
by: Dable post
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