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White House Calls Marriage Law Unfair to Gays

...but it's still defending DOMA in court

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 17, 2009 12:58 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Obama administration wants to give the Defense of Marriage Act the boot, the Justice Department said in court filings today, but that won’t stop the department from defending the law in court. The administration believes DOMA, which prevents federal recognition of gay marriage and denies gay federal employees marriage benefits, “is discriminatory and should be repealed,” says a department spokeswoman.

But, in a move that has infuriated Obama’s gay supporters, the department is still battling a lawsuit challenging the law, saying a reasonable argument can be made that DOMA is constitutional, reports the AP. “The Justice Department cannot pick and choose which federal laws it will defend based on any one administration’s policy preferences,” says the spokeswoman.

Keegan O'Brien of Worcester, Mass., leads chants as members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community protest the Defense of Marriage Act outside a DNC fundraiser.
Keegan O'Brien of Worcester, Mass., leads chants as members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community protest the Defense of Marriage Act outside a DNC fundraiser.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Attorney General Eric Holder makes remarks during a news conference at City Hall in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
Attorney General Eric Holder makes remarks during a news conference at City Hall in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Attorney General Eric Holder answers questions from the media in this file photo.
Attorney General Eric Holder answers questions from the media in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
kyleleitch
Aug 18, 2009 8:21 AM CDT
Half-empty*
kyleleitch
Aug 18, 2009 8:19 AM CDT
Just another example of all their f-empty campaign promises.
Snarfeh
Aug 18, 2009 7:21 AM CDT
jamaican, I really wish you were normal enough to qualify for your own statement. Honestly, though, I don't give a damn what it is called as long as the whole package is included, i.e., tax benefits, legal benefits, etc. So call ours civil unions as long as we get the whole package and then you can say you are married while we queers will say we are *civilized.* =oD

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