Dennis Hall, LGBT Project Leadership Committee MemberACLU of Michigan Lansing Branch Secretary
Three cheers for the Obama administration for getting it right on the continued discrimination of LGBT people under the Defense of Marriage Act!
Today, the Obama administration announced the Justice Department will no longer support the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law that bans the recognition of same-sex marriage.
Until now President Obama’s administration has been upholding this federal statute in several court cases across the country.
Attorney General Eric Holder said President Barack Obama “has concluded that the administration cannot defend the federal law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman.”
Holder also noted that the congressional debate during passage of DOMA “contains numerous expressions reflection moral disapproval of gays and lesbians and their intimate and family relationships – precisely the kind of stereotype-based thinking and animus” the Constitution is designed to guard against.
The national ACLU has been involved in many cases challenging DOMA, including that of Edie Windsor. After the death of her longtime partner, the federal government refused to recognize Edie’s marriage and taxed her inheritance as if the women were total strangers. Watch a video of Edie here.
This is the type of continued “We Got Your Back” support that the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBT Project has provided to the LGBT community for over a decade, and why I am so proud to support the Project.
It is because of this tremendous support and work that I urge lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered persons and allies across Michigan to get involved with the ACLU.
Become a card-carrying member and donate regularly to the ACLU-MI Fund on behalf of the LGBT Project!
The LGBT Project cannot continue to fight alone. We need everyone involved, regardless of your orientation.
We can’t forget that our rights are still on the line here in Michigan. While we celebrate our victories, we must protect our future!
Take action and urge your member of Congress to stay out of this litigation and not defend DOMA.
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