Historic: President endorses Respect for Marriage Act; would repeal all of DOMA

NOTE: We should hear the explosions of the heads of professional anti-gays shortly...

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Killing DOMA -- in fact passing difficult pro-LGBT legislation -- really requires the President to step up and use his bully pulpit to urge Congress to take action. To say again that DOMA must be repealed -- with a specific bill in mind -- is perfect timing with tomorrow's hearing coming up. Yes he can, and yes he did this time.

The Atlantic:

The president has "long called for a legislative appeal for the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on families," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at Tuesday's briefing. He said the president "is proud" to support the Respect For Marriage Act, "which would take the Defense of Marriage Act off the books for once and for all."

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Via Chris Geidner at MetroWeekly, the relevant part of the transcript:

Metro Weekly: The president has said in the past that he opposes the Defense of Marriage Act, but he is yet to endorse the Respect for Marriage Act, which is the specific piece of legislation --

Carney: Senator [Dianne] Feinstein [(D-Calif.)], yeah.

Metro Weekly: -- aimed to repeal the bill. Tomorrow, the Senate will hold the first hearing into that bill. Is the administration ready to endorse that bill?

Carney: I can tell you that the President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors. He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act, introduced by Sen. Feinstein and Congressman [Jerrold] Nadler [(D-N.Y.)], which would take DOMA off the books once and for all. This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.

This would repeal ALL of DOMA:

* The federal definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman;
* The section that allows states not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states;
* The federal government prohibition from recognizing legally performed same-sex marriages.

Congressman Jerry Nadler:

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the author and lead sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), lauded President Barack Obama's direct endorsement of his legislation. Nadler is the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and vice-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus.

"I am thrilled by President Obama's endorsement today of the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation which I introduced in order to repeal the discriminatory and cruel Defense of Marriage Act once and for all," said Nadler. "The President's unprecedented decision to support this timely legislation sends a powerful message to Members of Congress and to the American people that now is the moment to dispense with DOMA and remove this ugly blight from our legal code. The President has consistently supported repeal of DOMA and, with today's announcement, in advance of tomorrow's landmark Senate hearing, he has taken yet another step to make this a reality. On the heels of New York's advancement of marriage equality last month, the Respect for Marriage Act is more necessary than ever to ensure that all legally married couples are treated the same - and granted the same recognition - by the federal government."

The Respect for Marriage Act currently has 118 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. The 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.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will chair the first-ever hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act tomorrow. Rep. Nadler will testify on his legislation.

Other reactions were swift. They are below the fold.
Adam Bink at Prop 8 Trial Tracker:

This morning, we held an emotional press conference in a packed media room at the National Press Club with Sen. Feinstein and three couples who commuted to DC to tell their stories. It was just incredible. I'll have more on that later.

Then, 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 rarely, if ever, endorses legislation that hasn't passed a house of Congress... and this one hasn't even passed committee yet. It underscores the urgency of this issue, and it also generates huge momentum to our efforts to bring more Senators on board. How many pro-LGBT Senators are going to let President Obama be ahead of them on this?

Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry:

"Freedom to Marry applauds President Obama's strong endorsement of the Respect for Marriage Act and the repeal of so-called 'DOMA.' The federal government should not be picking and choosing which marriages it will honor and which it will disregard when it comes to the important federal protections that come with marriage, such as Social Security, health coverage, fair tax treatment, and immigration rights. Congress should follow the President's lead and return the federal government to its traditional practice of honoring all lawful marriages equally - without the 'gay exception' of DOMA."

Rick Jacobs, Courage Campaign:

We are delighted that today, on the eve of a historic Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, President Obama endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act. It is rare that a White House endorses a bill that has yet to pass first in either the Senate or the House. President Obama's decision to do so underscores the urgency with which the Defense of Marriage Act must be repealed. His support makes clear to all Americans that the Defense of Marriage Act has no place in our society.

Earlier this month, over 25,000 Courage Campaign members signed a letter asking the President to support this legislation. At a White House reception on June 29, the President indicated to me that he would endorse the bill. His exact words to me were, "I support repeal of DOMA. You know where I stand."

This morning, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, called me referring to my conversation with the president to say that today was the day and that Jay Carney would announce the White House's support for the bill. The members of the Courage Campaign are thrilled.

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who will, along with Wolfson, testify at the DOMA hearing:

"We thank the President for his support of the Respect for Marriage Act.  He has repeatedly expressed his desire to see the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act repealed and his Justice Department has taken the historic step of ending its defense of that odious law in court.  By supporting this legislation, the President continues to demonstrate his commitment to ending federal discrimination against tens of thousands of lawfully married same-sex couples."

Senator John Kerry (D-MA):

Kerry, who voted against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, was an original co-sponsor of the legislation to repeal key provisions of DOMA.

"Today's announcement from the White House is a historic signal that momentum is growing to end the era of DOMA," said Sen. Kerry. "Last year we finally repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell, ending an era that one day will seem as antiquated as the days before President Truman desegregated the military.  When we pass the Respect for Marriage Act, so too will the era of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act seem anachronistic in a country where we don't believe there should be any second class citizens.  

"It is still difficult to believe that DOMA passed the Senate 85 to 14 in 1996.  I'm proud that I voted against it then, and determined now to end the discrimination it enshrined in our laws.  The Respect for Marriage Act provides long-awaited federal protection and benefits to married gay and lesbian couples.  It would end DOMA's tragic discrimination that for three years left a married Massachusetts couple separated by the immigration system.  It took my intervention to reunite them; thousands just like them are still waiting for passage of the Respect for Marriage Act to provide them the basic rights they deserve.  Today, President Obama has made it clear his Administration will continue to lead as no Administration has done before in the effort to end discrimination against gay Americans.  This is very significant news."

Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:

"President Obama did the right thing today by announcing his support of the Respect for Marriage Act. In doing so, he joins the large and growing chorus urging for an end to DOMA, a discriminatory, unjust and far-reaching law. There is no sound defense of the indefensible DOMA, which singles out and selectively denies fundamental rights to legally married same-sex couples. We thank the president for his support on the eve of the historic congressional hearing to repeal DOMA. We thank him and the many House and Senate members who recognize that DOMA has no place on the books and support its full, swift repeal. DOMA has only served to belittle our country's deeply held values of freedom and fairness. It has only served to hurt families, not help. This must end now."

To learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, visit www.theTaskForce.org (http://www.theTaskForce.org) and follow us on Twitter: @TheTaskForce (http://www.twitter.com/thetaskforce).

National Stonewall Democrats:

"With his commonsense endorsement of the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA), President Obama makes a strong follow up move to his having called DOMA unconstitutional and his instruction to the Department of Justice to no longer defend it in court," said Michael Mitchell, NSD Executive Director. "It is in keeping with his promise to see DOMA repealed - something that no leading Republican candidate for President would ever dream of doing.

"DOMA has been an egregious affront to personal liberty since it was enacted almost 20 years ago and we strongly agree with the President, RMA's sponsors and a solid majority of Americans that it's time for it to end."