WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Jeff Krehely, Director of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement in response to an announcement from Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) that the United States House of Representatives would intervene in the existing federal court challenges to the so-called Defense of Marriage Act:
“Mr. Boehner’s decision to waste precious public resources on defending a law whose sole purpose is to discriminate against gay Americans is incomprehensible. With all of the challenges facing our nation, Congress should not spend one minute or one dollar supporting a law that serves no useful purpose and contradicts our nation’s basic principles of equality, fairness, and justice.”
DOMA prevents the federal government from recognizing the marriages of legally married same-sex couples and denies them any federal benefits related to marriage. The Department of Justice announced recently that it would no longer defend DOMA in court, after determining that the law is unconstitutional.
To speak to Jeff Krehely about this announcement, please contact Christina DiPasquale at 202-481-8181 or [email protected].