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Leading like Gov. Cuomo
June 27, 2011
By Adam Bink
The number of couples living in states in which marriage equality is a reality, but the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prevents those couples from having any federal rights. As much a problem is a couple from, say, Pennsylvania who travels to New York to wed, then loses recognition at the state line because DOMA says other states don’t have to recognize those marriages. It’s a patchwork quilt that we’re trying to resolve at the federal level.
We now have 27 Senators in support of repealing DOMA, but the President hasn’t yet come out in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act. So we’re giving him a little nudge.
Please read below and sign Cleve Jones’ open letter to the President. Rick Jacobs will be delivering your signatures to the White House. If the President hasn’t “evolved” yet on marriage equality, he should support legislative efforts to repeal DOMA. It’s time to lead.
“… (S)upport of the President would be very welcomed. I hope he endorses my bill to repeal DOMA.” — Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, June 23rd
Dear Adam,
According to the New York Times, Gov. Cuomo told his father, “(Passing same sex marriage) is at the heart of leadership and progressive government. I have to do this.” Yet even after he and Republican donors and senators “did this,” the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) means NY marriages provide no access to federal benefits and rights and no protection if couples marry and leave the state.
The time has long passed to repeal DOMA. While President Obama continues to “evolve” on marriage, we need him to support and lead on Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Respect for Marriage Act, which repeals DOMA — now.
I have spent nearly 40 years fighting for full equality, not fractions. Our president ordered his Justice Department to stop defending DOMA cases in court. If the president cannot say the words, “I support marriage equality,” he needs to say, “I support Sen. Feinstein’s bill to repeal DOMA.” And then he needs to get on the phone to senators to get them on board, just as Cuomo did. Americans respect courage. When President Obama says, “repeal DOMA,” he’ll earn respect of the base and his opponents.
Do you want President Obama to move DOMA off the books? Sign with me.
We have a lot to celebrate this Pride Month, but we also have a lot left to do. Through your efforts, 27 Senators support DOMA repeal — nearly halfway to the 60 we need. The President’s seal of approval — and leadership — can push this over the top. Gov. Cuomo gets it. We need our president to as well.
Click here to demand his seal of approval. It’s time.
Thanks for all you do,
Cleve Jones
Senior Adviser, Courage Campaign
Filed under: DOMA Repeal
22 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Alan_Eckert | June 27, 2011 at 1:47 pm
nudge nudge
2.
Ann S. | June 27, 2011 at 1:49 pm
§
3.
equality4us | June 27, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Amen. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for the six states who have been 'enlightened' and 'evolved' enough to realize marriage equality, but we still can't call this a UNITED states until the other 44 states are 'given' marriage equality as well. People in NY, IA, CT, MA, VT, NH & DC are no better and no less than my state of Oregon and 43 other states.
All 50 states need to FEDERALLY recognize marriage equality for all US citizens and THEN we might be telling the truth when we say the plege of allegiance to our flag and call ourselves a UNITED States of America living with liberty, justice and equality for all.
4.
jpmassar | June 27, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Signed.
5.
fiona64 | June 27, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Signed.
6.
Rich | June 27, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Signed
7.
Alan_Eckert | June 27, 2011 at 4:20 pm
NOTICE OF APPEAL as to [797] Order on Motion to Vacate by Martin F. Gutierrez, Dennis Hollingsworth, Mark A. Jansson, Gail J. Knight, ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8, A Project of California Renewal. Filing fee $ 455, Receipt Number 34611061453. (far, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/24/2011)
8.
justjoel59 | June 27, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Signed, with pleasure, but does this sort of thing really do any good?
9.
SoCal_Dave | June 27, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Is this what I think it is? Are the H8-ers actually appealing Judge Ware's decision?
10.
BZ | June 27, 2011 at 4:32 pm
This can only be good news for our side, because it will piss off the 9th Circuit.
11.
Mark | June 27, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Does anyone have the link for scribd.com ?
12.
Ann S. | June 27, 2011 at 4:54 pm
I don't know if Kathleen has put it up yet.
13.
Adam Bink | June 27, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Yes. In the first place, Rick is delivering signatures to the White House. In the second, we use it to generate media, which helps build pressure.
14.
grod | June 27, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@equality4us Civil Marriage Equality will be won state by state because the definition of marriage is a state power. You can not have it both ways. Either DOMA is not constitutional because it offends state powers, or it's consitiutional because the definition is a federal power. Few have argues it's a shared jurisdiction. In Canada, the definition of marriage is a federal power, and in the final analysis, it was federal legislation that imposed a uniform definition on 13 [provincial/territorial] jurisdictions, including the 3 holdouts. G
15.
Ann S. | June 27, 2011 at 6:19 pm
The Advocate has a link to the actual appeal: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/06/2…
16.
aquaCA | June 27, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Signed and delivered! Well, Rick will deliver!
17.
Chrys | June 27, 2011 at 7:14 pm
I'm pretty sure it's not constitutional because it violates equal rights principles.
18.
Rick | June 28, 2011 at 4:52 am
Cuomo for President!
19.
Ronnie | June 28, 2011 at 5:08 am
I concur…………. ; ) …Ronnie
20.
415kathleenk | June 28, 2011 at 1:55 pm
hey anonygirl- saw your comment ( among others) at NOM. You were right ( or someone was right) when he/she said more of us are commenting on NOM and getting through.
21. Prop 8 Trial Tracker &raq&hellip | July 19, 2011 at 11:44 am
[...] we got word from the White House that President Obama would heed the call of over 25,000 Courage Campaign members, and formally endorse the Respect for Marriage Act. Why is this a big deal? Because the White House [...]
22. History in the Making: Ob&hellip | July 20, 2011 at 3:29 am
[...] we got word from the White House that President Obama would heed the call of over 25,000 Courage Campaign members (the text of our call to President Obama can be found here) and formally endorse the Respect for [...]
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