DOMA Repeal Vs. DOMA Defense: Recent LGBT Bills Reveal Partisan Divide

DOMA Repeal Vs. DOMA Defense: Recent LGBT Bills Reveal Partisan Divide

A bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is slated to be introduced Wednesday in the U.S. House and Senate. The bill, which will be called the "Respect for Marriage Act," already has 105 original cosponsors in the House. The Senate version of the bill will be introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and marks the first attempt by the Senate to repeal DOMA.

This bill comes just two weeks after Republican Speaker John Boehner announced that the House would take up the charge of defending section three of DOMA in court. President Obama announced last month that he believes that section - which prohibits the federal government from recognizing state-sanctioned same-sex marriages -- is unconstitutional and the Department of Justice would no longer defend it in court.

These actions, along with a flurry of other LGBT-related bills that have been introduced since the beginning of the 112th Congress, demonstrate a partisan split that continues to divide Congress on LGBT issues:

More:
http://equalitymatters.org/blog/201103150006

When the Dems actually had the majority in both houses.


Now, they can say "Look, we tried", knowing full well it won't pass.

I appreciate the efforts of some. But they had the majorties to do this in 2009-10. they did little.

Republicans can be counted on to be 100% opposed to gay rights or any human rights for that matter. Democrats can be counted on to be mostly opposed to gay and human rights, with a few exceptional politicians who usually get outvoted and not reelected. The Catholic, Mormon, and fundamentalist Protestant leadership makes sure of this.

Remove the millions of dollars of influence (and probably blackmail as well) and vast numbers of politicians on both sides will suddenly become advocates for gay rights.