This post submitted by HRC Policy Assistant Jonathan Monteith.
Lawmakers and LGBT leaders introduce the Respect for Marriage Act to repeal DOMA last week on Capitol Hill
Thirteen years ago today, President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law. It was a difficult moment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and the consequences continue to be felt every single day. While a series of state-level victories in the fight for marriage equality have finally enabled tens of thousands of loving, same-sex couples across the country to join in marriage over the last few years, DOMA blocks the federal government from recognizing a single one. Millions of Americans are denied federal recognition of marriage and the protections and responsibilities that come with it – Social Security survivors’ benefits, equal treatment under U.S. immigration laws, the right to take leave to care for a spouse, and more.
On this unhappy anniversary for LGBT Americans, it is important to acknowledge the considerable progress that has been made in turning the page on DOMA. Just last week, we saw the U.S. House introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and restore the rights of all lawfully married couples—including same-sex couples—to receive the benefits of marriage under federal law. The RMA also provides same-sex couples with certainty that federal benefits and protections would flow from a valid marriage celebrated in a state where such marriages are legal, even if a couple moves or travels to another state.
President Clinton himself has come a long way on the issue. During last week’s press conference hailing the introduction of the House DOMA repeal bill, RMA lead sponsor Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) read a statement from the former president:
“Throughout my life I have opposed discrimination of any kind. When the Defense of Marriage Act was passed, gay couples could not marry anywhere in the United States or the world for that matter. Thirteen years later, the fabric of our country has changed, and so should this policy.”
The Respect for Marriage Act currently has 95 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. The Human Rights Campaign is currently working to increase the number of co-sponsors to build support for the bill and ensure the federal government respects all marriages.
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