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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Brian Richardson 504-909-0580
brian@eqca.org

EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors Issues Statement on President Obama's Support of Defense of Marriage Act

SAN FRANCISCO

In a recent California Federal Court challenge filed by a couple legally married in California, the United States Department of Justice under the direction of President Barack Obama filed a brief supporting the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and justifying discrimination in government benefits against same-sex couples. In response, Equality California (EQCA) Executive Director Geoff Kors released the following statement:

"We are outraged the Obama Administration filed a brief defending the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act - a law Obama promised to repeal when running for President. It is unacceptable that he is defending DOMA instead of supporting its repeal as unconstitutional. And the justification that Congress has the right to deny one minority equal benefits as a way to save money is truly offensive. We not only call on President Obama to order the Justice Department to file a supplemental brief reversing its position and instead urging the repeal of DOMA, but we also demand the president demonstrates that he is the 'fierce' advocate he once claimed to be by publicly calling for the end to all discrimination against LGBT Americans - including the immediate repeal of this law so same-sex couples legally married in their home state receive the same federal benefits and protections as opposite-sex couples."

Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.