Everyone — EVERYONE — deserves to marry the person they love most in the world and receive the support and recognition that only comes from marriage.
Zach Silk
Campaign Manager
Washington United for Marriage
Tag Archives: Defense of Marriage Act
Pelosi – House Dems and Congress in the Newsroom JUNE 2012
During LGBT Pride Month, we celebrate how far we’ve come in the fight for civil rights, we pledge to keep working to ensure our nation lives up to the American ideal of equality, our heritage and our hope.
Since the dark days of the Stonewall riots more than four decades ago, millions of Americans have joined the struggle for equal protection under the law; the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; respect and dignity for all Americans.
Despite setbacks and obstacles along the way, we have made progress.
Just in recent years, in Congress we passed a fully-inclusive hate crimes law and made historic investments in HIV/AIDS treatment, research, and prevention. The discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy took its rightful place in the dustbin of history. President Obama made it the policy of his administration to no longer defend the shameful Defense of Marriage Act in court.
And we all witnessed history just last month when the President of the United States spoke out in favor of marriage rights for LGBT couples. We look forward to the day when all American families are treated equally in the eyes of the law.
But more must be done. We must keep up the charge for an end to discrimination in all its forms — in the workplace, in schools, in government, and in our laws. We must protect and preserve the rights of all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation.
This LGBT Pride Month, let’s recommit to building a future of freedom, liberty, and progress for LGBT Americans and all Americans.
Thank you.
********************************************
May 17, 2012 by NancyPelosi
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor today in opposition to House Republican’s obstruction of consideration of the McGovern Amendment in the Defense Authorization bill which simply adopts the withdrawal timeline signed by President Obama and Afghan President Karzai earlier this month.
********************************************
May 16, 2012 by NancyPelosi
Leader Pelosi on the House floor speaking strongly against H.R. 4970, the House GOP version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization. The GOP bill is a partisan bill that provides far fewer protections for domestic violence victims than the strong, bipartisan Senate-passed bill.
***********************************************
May 10, 2012 by NancyPelosi
Leader Pelosi floor speech against House Republican bill to begin implementing their out-of-touch budget for special interests. This GOP reconciliation bill slashes vital services — and the middle class, seniors, women and children will pay the price.
****************************************
Apr 27, 2012 by NancyPelosi
Leader Pelosi urging House Republicans to act to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling by ending subsidies to Big Oil rather than furthering their assault on women’s health.
Share this:
a message from AL Franken … Repeal DOMA
Hear that sound? That’s momentum — our fight for marriage equality is building steam.
We knew the Defense of Marriage Act was discriminatory. We knew it was wrong. But an appeals court in Boston just ruled that it’s unconstitutional, too.
Meanwhile, in the wake of President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage, polls show that more and more Americans are ready for a country where the law treats all loving, committed relationships equally.
And here in Minnesota, surveys show that we have a great chance to defeat an anti-equality constitutional amendment — a victory that would be the first of its kind if we can pull it off.
This is the perfect time to help us keep building momentum by signing on to my petition to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act — click here to add your name today!
We still have a long way to go. Change is hard — even without right-wing groups spending lots of money to stop it from happening. We’re fighting uphill — here in Minnesota and around the country.
But the momentum is on our side. It’s just a matter of time before we end marriage discrimination in America. Well, time and hard work.
A generation from now, marriage equality will be the law of the land. And you’ll be able to look back on this moment and know that you helped to build momentum in this fight — that, because of you, America is a fairer country.
Click here to help me fight for marriage equality today!
Thanks,
Al
P.S.: My ‘extra ask in the P.S.’ is even more important when we’re fighting for equality. Join in the fight to end DOMA today.
Share this:
Pelosi – House Dems and Congress in the Newsroom JUNE 2012
It’s been more than 250 days since the GOP took control of the House, and Americans are still asking: Where are the jobs, House Republicans?
The middle class is hurting, and the Republicans’ only answer is a plan to end Medicare and give tax breaks to Big Oil and companies that ship jobs overseas.
- Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor revealed the GOP’s summer agenda – and what’s missing? A single jobs bill on the floor or a clear jobs plan.
- The only jobs bills to come to the floor this Congress have been Democratic proposals, and the GOP has voted “no” on every one.
- Democrats will continue to promote and pursue our Make It In America agenda to create jobs and keep America number one.
Learn more about the legislation the House has considered this Congress:
H.R. 1315 – Assault on Consumer Protections»
H.R. 2560 – GOP Cut, Cap & End Medicare Act»
H.R. 2018 – Undermining Clean Water»
H.R. 1309 – Flood Insurance»
H.R. 2417 – BULB Act»
H.R. 2219 – Defense Appropriations»
H.R. 2021 – More Giveaways to Big Oil, Not Lower Gas Prices»
H.R. 672 – Ending the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)»
H.R. 2112 – FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill»
H.R. 2055 – FY 2012 Military Construction/VA Appropriations Bill»
H.R. 1229 & H.R. 1231 – More Gifts To Big Oil»
H.R. 1230 – A Gift to Big Oil»
Restricting Women’s Access to Health Care»
Reducing Access to Health Care For Small Businesses & Uninsured»
Reducing Access to Health Care for Young People»
Upton-Inhofe Weaken Clean Air Act»
The FAA Job Loss Bill»
DC Private School Vouchers»
HAMP Termination Act»
GOP Spending Bill»
Build America Bonds»
GOP Patients’ Rights Repeal Bill»
H.R. 359 – Placing Control of Our Elections More Squarely Into the Hands of Special Interests»
Learn more about Democratic motions the House has considered this Congress:
On certain bills, House Democrats are allowed to offer a Motion to Recommit amending the pending bill before the final passage vote. Democrats have offered many motions this Congress ranging from increasing combat pay for our troops to protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Democratic Motions to Recommit in the 112th Congress»
As Speaker Boehner continues his legal boondoggle to defend the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act in the federal courts, he is batting 0 for 4. Today’s ruling in Windsor vs. U.S. marks the fourth loss for his lawyers as the court ruled that DOMA serves no rational purpose and is unconstitutional.
In Windsor vs. U.S., Speaker Boehner intervened in the case of Edie Windsor who was penalized by DOMA to the tune of $350,000 after the death of her spouse, Thea Spyer, of 44 years.
When Thea died, the federal government refused to recognize their marriage and taxed Edie’s inheritance from Thea as though they were strangers. Under DOMA, only an opposite-sex spouse who dies can leave her assets, including the family home, to the other spouse without incurring estate taxes.
Boehner’s lawyers have now intervened in 14 cases and spent over $700,000 in taxpayer funds, but have now lost four cases in a row:
February 22, 2012 – U.S. District Court in California declares DOMA unconstitutional, in Golinski v. United States, ruling in favor of Karen Golinski who sought to enroll her wife in the federal employee health plan
May 24, 2012 – U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California rules DOMA unconstitutional and held that federal tax law cannot limit the participation of same-sex married couples and domestic partners in a long-term care insurance plan in Dragovich v. U.S. Department of Treasury.
May 31, 2012 – U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston rules DOMA unconstitutional in Massachusetts v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
June 6, 2012 – U.S. District Court in New York rules DOMA unconstitutional in Windsor vs. U.S.
More background and a timeline of Speaker Boehner’s indefensible DOMA defense are available here.
Share this:
The hottest new item: Mitt ‘N Match! … Human Rights Campaign
 |
|||
Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up? In honor of Super Tuesday, you can now play Mitt ‘N Match and watch Mitt change his positions on equality issues more often than he changes clothes! He used to support open military service. Now he doesn’t. He used to support fairness in the workplace. Now he doesn’t. He used to support domestic partnerships. Now he doesn’t. Mitt ‘N Match is the gift that keeps on giving… the truth about this presidential candidate’s LGBT politics. With no core convictions or guiding principles to get in the way, there’s nothing stopping you from giving Mitt a brand new look – with new policy stances to match. Mitt can become whatever you and his big money, right-wing donors want him to be. Take Mitt’s pledge to fight for a constitutional ban on marriage equality – there’s an outfit for that. What about Mitt’s support for the hate-driven Defense of Marriage Act or his opposition to ending workplace discrimination? Just dress him up! Mitt Romney is a complex guy with too many positions to count. But no matter what anti-LGBT rhetoric he’s spouting, just remember… always dress to impress! Enjoy, The HRC Team |
Be a Seed for Change 
You must be logged in to post a comment.