Legislation introduced in September in the House of Representatives calls for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and restoration of the rights of all lawfully married couples--including same-sex couples--to receive the benefits of marriage.
Legislation introduced in September in the House of Representatives
calls for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and restoration of
the rights of all lawfully married couples--including same-sex
couples--to receive the benefits of marriage. Since 1996 DOMA has
superseded states' decisions on same-sex marriage and denied
federal benefits and protections to same-sex couples. The Respect for
Marriage Act would reverse this, as well as ensure that the federal
government continues to recognize a same-sex marriage even if the couple
moves to a state that doesn't sanction such marriage.
Karen Ann Gajewski is a contributing editor to the Humanist and a
documentation project coordinator.
COPYRIGHT 2009 American Humanist Association
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
|
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion