September, 15 2009, 10:37am EDT
Americans for Democratic Action Calls for Marriage Equality
Congress Takes First Step to Repeal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
WASHINGTON
Michael J. Wilson, National Director
of Americans for Democratic Action, issued this statement following the
introduction of legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act:
"Americans
for Democratic Action applauds Congress for taking this first step to repeal
the Defense of Marriage Act. This
misnamed piece of legislation enshrined discrimination into Federal law. It treats legal marriages in some states
differently than legal marriages in other states. It denies thousands of Americans the
same rights and privileges as others.
It has no place in a fair and just society and it is time for it to end.
"Marriage, as a legal institution,
should only be limited to adults seeking permanent, committed relationships.
The inevitable discrimination that flows from permitting some marriages but not
others is both unfair and unconstitutional.
"The
road ahead is sure to be difficult but we are thankful to Representative Nadler
and the other sponsors of this bill for showing real leadership on this
important issue.
"The
battle against discrimination has never been easy, and social change has always
been hard but ADA has
always stood for justice, and history is on our side. "
ADA is America's most experienced independent liberal lobbying organization. In the spirit of the New Deal and ADA founders Eleanor Roosevelt, renowned economist John Kenneth Galbraith, and former Senator and Vice President Hubert Humphrey we lobby through coalition partnerships, through direct advocacy, and through the media.
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