Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and author of the Respect for Marriage Act – a bill that would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)—applauded Senator Patrick Leahy’s announcement that the Senate Judiciary Committee will markup the bill in November.

“I applaud and thank my Senate colleagues – Senators Leahy, Feinstein, and Gillibrand – for their strong leadership on this issue,” said Nadler.  “The movement to repeal DOMA is steadily growing stronger and markup of the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee will continue that momentum.  This is an important step in our move to ensure that all American families are treated with equal respect, and I look forward to continued collaboration with our colleagues in the Senate,” continued Nadler.

Nadler introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in March, along with Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), David Cicilline (D-RI), and John Conyers (D-MI), as well as the Democratic Leadership of the House.  Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) also introduced a companion bill in the Senate.  In July, President Obama endorsed the legislation and the Senate Judiciary Committee held the first ever legislative hearing on the bill.  The bill now has bipartisan support.

The legislation would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 law that discriminates against lawfully married gay and lesbian couples.  The 15-year-old DOMA singles out legally married gay and lesbian couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law, selectively denying them critical federal responsibilities and rights, including programs like Social Security that are intended to ensure the stability and security of American families. 

The Respect for Marriage Act represents the consensus approach endorsed by the nation’s leading LGBT and civil rights stakeholders and legislators, and would ensure that valid marriages are respected under federal law, providing couples with much-needed certainty that they will have the same access to federal responsibilities and rights as all other married couples.

Supporters of DOMA argued in 1996 that the law is necessary to promote family structures that are best for children, but every credible medical, social science and child welfare organization has concluded that gay and lesbian couples are equal parents.  Married gay and lesbian couples pay taxes, serve their communities and raise children like other couples.  Their contributions and needs are no different from anyone else’s.  The Respect for Marriage Act would ensure that couples who assume the serious legal duties of marriage are treated fairly under federal law.

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