Hearings To Begin On Respect For Marriage Act

[Smurfette Principle]

Link to article here.

Today, Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced a hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act, the bill that would overturn DOMA, scheduled for Wednesday July 20th. The hearing will be the first time Congress has heard testimony on legislation that would end federal marriage discrimination against gay and lesbian couples.

“With thousands of loving and committed couples in New York set to marry this month, now is the perfect time for the Senate to begin the process of repealing the discriminatory so-called Defense of Marriage Act,” said Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon. “Until DOMA’s enactment, the federal government had always honored marriages celebrated in the states. It’s time for Congress to end this gay exception and allow legally married same-sex couples access to the tools and security available to all other couples to build a life together and protect their families.”

I'm sorry, I'm a little busy dancing in glee and merriment. Your thoughts?

[Oriet]

Awesome that it's being introduced, but I doubt it will pass, especially with the current economic turmoil.

[cestlefun17]

It will not pass the Senate (due to filibuster) nor the House (due to lack of votes), but the hearings will bring many witnesses who will testify on the record, showing just how disgusting this law really is.

We do have the votes to get it out of committee for a full debate on the Senate floor, putting pro- and anti-equality messages on the record.

All of this will be immensely useful to have in the several on-going lawsuits attacking DOMA. DOMA's life will end through the judicial branch, not the legislative.