Login
Forgot Password?

OR

Login with Google Login with Twitter Login with Facebook
  • Join
  • Profiles
  • Groups
  • SuicideGirls
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Shop
Vital Stats Tip

jaeci

Nomads have none.

SG Since 2007

Followers 4215 Following 2401

  • Everything
  • Photos
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Groups
  • From Others

Thursday Feb 24, 2011

Feb 24, 2011
0
  • Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Email
DOMA on its way out? Hopefully. Here's a re-posting of an article my mama sent me from truthout. I've included the URL and everything, this is not my article obviously, and credit goes to necessary parties. Discussion below.



White House Declares Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional

Nadia Prupis | Wednesday 23 February 2011

The Obama administration said Wednesday that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and the Justice Department will no longer support it. The Defense of Marriage Act is a federal law defining marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.

Attorney General Eric Holder sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner stating, "Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ... as applied to same-sex couples who are legally married under state law, violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment."

"The President and I have concluded that classifications based on sexual orientation warrant heightened scrutiny and that, as applied to same-sex couples legally married under state law, Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional," Holder wrote.

According to the letter, President Obama made his decision after he reviewed two cases in federal appeals courts and found them to be in violation of the Constitution. In light of a "documented history of discrimination," among other factors, Obama concluded that discriminatory treatment based on sexual orientation should be "subject to a heightened standard of scrutiny," which the Defense of Marriage Act does not meet.

Holder said the administration was obligated to continue enforcing the law until it was appealed or overturned by a court that delivers a "definitive verdict against the laws constitutionality."

At a time when it's often tough to tell the difference between the corporate news and its advertisements, it's essential to keep independent journalism strong. Support Truthout today by clicking here.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-New York), the ranking Democrat on the House Constitution Subcommittee, noted the historical significance of the announcement.

"This marks the first time that the federal government has recognized that a law designed to harm LGBT Americans and their families cannot be justified," Nadler said. "I commend Attorney General Holder and President Obama for their leadership, integrity and courage."

Nadler also said he would be reintroducing his legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act to "ensure that committed, loving couples can rely upon the legal responsibilities and security that come with the time-honored tradition of marriage."

Same-sex marriage is currently legal only in the states of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia. Some other states allow civil unions, but do not recognize married couples.

Source URL: http://www.truth-out.org/white-house-declares-defense-marriage-act-unconstitutional68004



So, what does this mean? This is potentially a step toward a brighter future.

DOMA legalized a constitutional violation by states. Not cool. Really not awesome to legalize bigotry. Sometimes I am not proud of my country. I am, however, proud when the president looks at this violation of rights and says, "Hey now. This doesn't fly."

I was talking with a friend last night about this very shit. In Canada, it's so easy... but I'm not Canadian. If I (and I say "I" generally-- this could be anyone) fall in love with a Canadian woman and we get married, our marriage won't be recognized in my country. I could not do some paperwork, apply for a K3 visa, pay a fee, and bring a wife back to the states with me-- even if we had a legal union in Canada. Many of my queer Canadian friends don't seem to realize how good it is here. Ultimately, even in the US where we've got a long way to go, it is much better than in many other places.... Don't think for even a second that I do not recognize/appreciate this.

Many of my wonderful American friends are in long-term, loving relationships with their partners, and their unions, their marriages, are not recognized. Who the fuck is anyone to say that the love in a heterosexual relationship is somehow more valid than the love present in a homosexual relationship? How do you qualify love? Who the fuck is going to get hurt by committed, loving partners being given the right to legally declare their relationship? There is no downside to permitting same-sex marriage. It will not hurt you. It will not damage your children to grow up in a world that is more tolerant and more accepting. It will not drain social security. It will not ruin your church, it will not destroy "family values," it will not disrupt the moral conscience of the country.

I do not understand the fear. Even if you are someone who doesn't "believe" in homosexuality (which, frankly, baffles me. You have no choice but to believe in it. This sentiment is nonsensical- homosexuality exists), why do you care about what goes on in the bedrooms of consenting adults? What sense does it make to deny fundamental rights to a group of people based on who they are attracted to? Many people who oppose same-sex marriage would never discriminate based on race or religion- yet somehow, discrimination based on sexual orientation is acceptable. You don't get to pick your race and you don't get to decide who you fall in love with. You don't wake up and decide that you're Japanese or Irish or gay. It's just how it is.

Here is a page that dissects 10 arguments AGAINST same-sex marriage and explains why it's bullshit. Bigoted homophobia. Regardless of your bible, your sacred text, does your god not preach tolerance and love of others? Live your life by your rules, your standards, your code of ethics, your morals, your commandments. Remember, Matthew 7:1, I believe... do not judge or you too will be judged. If you think homosexuality is a sin, then let the sinners sin. When you stand before your god, when your afterlife is chosen, you will not be judged on the actions of others.

This fires me up, indeed. It fires me up more when lgbtq acquaintances comment that I get fired up. I know we've got shit like war, poverty, HIV/AIDS, illiteracy, deforestation etc to think about, as human beings on this fine earth... but that doesn't diminish the importance of tolerance. One day, I hope we will all be treated - at least under the law - as the equals that we are.

VIEW 14 of 14 COMMENTS
78walk:
People tend to fear that which is different, and a lot of reprehensible folks make it their stock in trade to try to heighten fear by making those who are different seem ominous and threatening. In America, it's a strongly generational thing and the tide has already begun to turn in favor of tolerance, albeit more slowly than one would hope. As you point out, in many other places across the globe the outlook for change is far more bleak.
Feb 24, 2011
bender47:
Funny the folks that talk about small govt are the first to support legislating behavior.
Feb 24, 2011

More Blogs

  • 12.28.15
    2

    RIP LEMMY!

    Killed by death, you bastard. I loved you enough to get naked on th…
  • 10.02.14
    1

    I'm living in Brooklyn these days. Working très hard, launching new p…

  • 01.05.14
    4

    Monday

    Averaging 20 pages a day right now. Can I keep up the pace? Worl…
  • 08.29.12
    12

    Wednesday Aug 29, 2012

    Anybody miss me? I'm probably just fading out of site in SG world as…
  • 06.17.12
    9

    Sunday Jun 17, 2012

    Yet again, I MOVED. It's true. It happened. Now I live between a m…
  • 05.09.12
    7

    Wednesday May 09, 2012

    Remember once upon a time when I used to blog on SG? Oh, those were …
  • 03.14.12
    30

    Wednesday Mar 14, 2012

    Happy birthday to me, I'm 1/4 century. Also, last night, my team so…
  • 03.12.12
    16

    Monday Mar 12, 2012

    Have you ever wanted to hear me sing? Probably not. But now you can!…
  • 03.07.12
    18

    Wednesday Mar 07, 2012

    Sometimes, I feel wayyyyy too old to be on SG.
  • 03.03.12
    7

    Saturday Mar 03, 2012

    I MADE YOU A VIDEO! But then my phone died, so I can't upload it yet.…

We at SuicideGirls have been celebrating alternative pin-up girls for:

23
years
8
months
26
days
  • 5,509,826 fans
  • 41,393 fans
  • 10,327,617 followers
  • 4,593 SuicideGirls
  • 1,123,960 followers
  • 14,912,794 photos
  • 321,315 followers
  • 61,373,207 comments
  • Join
  • Profiles
  • Groups
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • Help
  • About
  • Press
  • LIVE

Legal/Tos | DMCA | Privacy Policy | 18 U.S.C. 2257 Record-Keeping Requirements Compliance Statement | Contact Us | Vendo Payment Support
©SuicideGirls 2001-2025

Press enter to search
Fast Hi-res

Click here to join & see it all...

Crop your photo