SACRAMENTO - May 19 - Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D - Santa Monica) introduced a joint resolution sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) calling for the immediate repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which explicitly forbids the federal government or any federal agency from recognizing state-sanctioned marriages between same-sex couples. As a result, same-sex married couples are refused the same rights and responsibilities as their opposite-sex counterparts, resulting in inequitable and unfair implementation of federal laws governing a range of issues including housing, immigration, tax and inheritance.

"DOMA is a stain on our nation's promise of equality and justice under the law," said Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors, whose organization is sponsoring the resolution. "Same-sex married couples deserve the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex married couples. President Obama must keep his campaign promise and call for Congress to repeal DOMA immediately."

Once passed, the resolution, AJR 19, will put the state of California on record in support of an immediate repeal of DOMA, which was passed in 1996. Repealing DOMA would result in the federal government recognizing legal marriages for same-sex couples, just as it currently does for legal marriages for opposite-sex couples.

"If a state recognizes the love and commitment of one couple, the federal government must do the same," said Assemblymember Brownley upon introducing the bill. "I urge Congress and the President to take a stand on the side of liberty and treat all Americans equally."

More information about EQCA's other legislation: www.eqca.org/legislation.