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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Defense of Marriage Act

Defense of Marriage Act stories: 12 news summaries

House Dems Working to
Repeal Gay-Marriage Law

Bill seeks to repeal DOMA, extend benefits to same-sex couples

Sep 14, 09 10:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - A group of three House Democrats, two of them gay, are slated to unveil a bill this week that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that defines marriage as a man-woman union and blocks same-sex couples from getting full benefits, the Hill reports. DOMA has frustrated... More »

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gay marriage • Defense of Marriage Act • same-sex couples

 Fed Judge Tosses DoMA Suit 


Aug 25, 09 5:52 AM CDT
(Newser) - A federal judge in California dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act yesterday, supporting the Obama administration's claim that a gay couple had not suffered "an injury in fact." The Justice Department filed a brief agreeing with the plaintiffs that DoMA is discriminatory, but said it... More »

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California • Department of Justice • gay marriage • discrimination • constitutionality • Defense of Marriage Act

White House Calls Marriage Law Unfair
to Gays

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

Aug 17, 09 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... More »

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Department of Justice • gay marriage • discrimination • Obama administration • Defense of Marriage Act

(Newser) - Massachusetts has challenged the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, saying it interferes with a state's right to define and regulate marriage, the Boston Globe reports. “In enacting DOMA,” the lawsuit reads, “... More »

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gay rights • gay marriage • United States • Massachusetts • lawsuit • constitutionality • Defense of Marriage Act • same-sex couples

 Obama Renews 
 Promises to 
 Dismayed 
 Gay Leaders 

President vows to repeal DOMA, open military to all

Jun 30, 09 8:42 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama turned on the charm at a reception yesterday for gay, lesbian, and transgender activists at the White House, where he tried to dispel worries he was dragging his feet on campaign promises. "I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration" by the... More »

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Barack Obama • gay rights • gay marriage • Don't Ask, Don't Tell • civil rights • Stonewall Rebellion • Matthew Shepard • Defense of Marriage Act • women's issues

Obama Invites Gay Advocates to White House

But angered rights campaigners want
more than just talk

Jun 23, 09 8:28 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama has invited gay rights leaders to the White House next Monday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the New York protests seen as the start of gay liberation. It's unclear whether Obama will address the strong criticism he's recently faced from gay and lesbian advocates.... More »

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Barack Obama • gay rights • lesbians • Don't Ask, Don't Tell • White House • Stonewall Rebellion • Defense of Marriage Act

Analysis

Obama Offers Gays Too Little, Too Late

Toothless federal-benefits gesture falls flat in LGBT community

Jun 17, 09 11:42 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama’s memorandum giving gay federal workers some of the benefits straight ones enjoy has gone over like a lead balloon in the gay community, Politico reports. Advocates say it’s a weak gesture because the Defense of Marriage Act—which the administration recently defended—prevents it from including... More »

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Barack Obama • gay rights • benefits • Obama administration • President Obama • Defense of Marriage Act • gay activists

(Newser) - Gay-rights supporters in and outside of Washington are getting fed up with President Obama’s perceived inaction on their core issues, Politico reports. Obama has been unwilling to back gay marriage, and has yet to fulfill his campaign promise of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition... More »

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gay rights • gay marriage • Washington DC • Obama administration • President Obama • Defense of Marriage Act • campaign promises • gay activists

COMMENTARY

 'Gay Tax' Hurts 
 Couples Tying the Knot 

Federal inequality lands same-sex couples in the poor house

May 16, 09 4:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - First comes love, then comes marriage, then the taxman, who penalizes same-sex couples with the “gay tax,” Nancy Goldstein writes on NPR. The media’s morality play about gay marriage has overshadowed the economic costs of inequality, argues Goldstein, who calculates her annual tax at $1,820 for... More »

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gay rights • gay marriage • benefits • taxation • Defense of Marriage Act

 Momentum Builds Behind Gay Marriage

Vermont, Iowa wins energize supporters
of same-sex unions

Apr 8, 09 5:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - Decisions in Iowa and Vermont have doubled the number of states allowing gay marriage in less than a week and campaigners feel they are on a roll, the New York Times reports. At least nine other state legislatures will consider measures to legalize gay marriage this year. Newly energized supporters—... More »

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gay rights • gay marriage • Defense of Marriage Act

Vermont House Passes
Gay Marriage Bill

Measure now headed for likely veto by governor

Apr 3, 09 2:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Vermont House of Representatives has followed the state senate in voting to legalize gay marriage, reports the Wall Street Journal. The bill will now head to Gov. James Douglas, who has promised to veto it. The 95-52 House vote falls short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a... More »

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gay rights • gay marriage • Vermont • civil union • Defense of Marriage Act

(Newser) - Sen. Charles Schumer now supports full marriage rights for same-sex couples, the New York Daily News reports. The New York Democrat, who was on the record as a proponent of civil unions, also wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which he himself voted for. “It’s time,... More »

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Congress • gay rights • gay marriage • Charles Schumer • Senate • New York • Defense of Marriage Act

12 Stories


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