This morning at a press conference on Capitol Hill, Members of Congress led by Reps. Jerry Nadler of New York, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jared Polis of Colorado will introduce legislation to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The bill is titled the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) and would restore the rights of all lawfully married couples — including same-sex couples — to receive the benefits of marriage under federal law. The bill 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. We’re talking about rights like Social Security survivors’ benefits, medical leave to care for an ailing spouse and equal treatment under U.S. immigration laws along. In fact a GAO report cites 1,138 instances in federal law in which marital status is cited.
Last week we told you about our DOMA repeal campaign and the 50,000 people who responded to our survey on the harmful effects of DOMA. It’s clear that repealing the discriminatory law is a top priority for equality supporters — especially in light of the real harm the law inflicts on families headed by same-sex couples. Here are some of the results of what you told us:
We asked which effects of DOMA are most harmful to same-sex married couples and their families (allowing people to choose up to three). No Social Security Survivor Benefits: 64.3% / Unfair Inheritance Taxation: 53.4% / Denial of surviving mothers’ and fathers’ benefits for children of same-sex parents: 45.1% / Unfair health plan taxation: 40.0% / Being strangers under federal law: 36.2% / Not being allowed to take family medical leave: 32.1%.
Second, we asked how important is overturning DOMA to you? You responded, a top priority: 70.9% / very important: 26.7% / somewhat important: 1.2% / and not important: 0.2%.
We asked about the demographics of the participants. Those in a relationship, but not legally married, in a civil union or registered domestic partnership: 32.6% / Single (includes divorced, separated, or widowed): 30.9% / Legally married: 27.1% / in a registered domestic partnership: 6.1% / In a civil union: 1.8%.
Whether or not your relationship is legally recognized: Yes, my relationship is recognized by my state: 27.7% / I am not married, in a civil union or registered partnership: 27.2% / No, my relationship is not recognized by my state: 12.0% / Not Sure: 1.6% / No Response: 31.5%. It’s worth noting that of the same-sex couples answering this question ZERO PERCENT are recognized by the federal government.
Finally, some of the most interesting pieces of data, how our respondents identify (note a high heterosexual response demonstrating this is an issue about which LGBT and straight alike care). Gay: 34.0% / Lesbian: 20.0% / Heterosexual: 31.0% / Bisexual: 6.0% / Prefer not to answer: 3.0% / Transgender: 1.0% / Other: 5.0%
We’ll have further coverage of the press conference later today on HRC Back Story.
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