02-24-2011, 04:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by OrchidIslander
Today was a very good day.
Civil Unions signed into law in Hawaii, and the Executive Branch of the United States Government - along with the US Department of Justice - declaring that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional when applied to state sanctioned, legally married same-sex couples.
President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have advised the Speaker of the House that no longer will the Executive Branch or the DOJ continue to defend Section 3 in court because of the discriminatory nature inherent and the lack of precedents in some affected jurisdictions.
Several lower courts have already ruled that Section 3, which holds same-sex couples to a somewhat different standard, and DOMA are discriminatory.
Equality in marriage does not yet exist, but based on today's actions and previous court rulings - serious cracks are starting to develop regarding the continuation of denied equal rights to some citizens.
I grow more and more proud of my country and of my state.
This was indeed a very good day!!
Thank you for posting this information.
CONGRATULATIONS to the gay and lesbian population.
However, until we are all equal this is just a drop in the bucket. We need for all adults to be able to have equal rights to marry.
As kapohocat posted, some heterosexuals abuse their right to marry and do not take it seriously, it is still a right that heterosexuals have and that gays and lesbians do not have. This is America and we all deserve equal rights under the law.