President Obama drops DOMA defense: Internet reactions
Same-sex couple Nowlin Haltom, left, and Michael McKeon hold a sign calling for the right to marry outside the county clerk's office in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day.(Robyn Beck/AFP)
From the Associated Press:
The Obama administration says it will no longer defend the constitutionality of a federal law that bans recognition of same-sex marriage.
In a statement Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder says President Barack Obama has concluded that the administration can no longer defend the federal law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman.
The Justice Department had defended the Defense of Marriage Act in court until now.
The Post's Ed O'Keefe writes the decision adds to a list of gay victories under Obama.
What's your reaction to Obama's decision?
Reaction on Twitter quickly splintered in two directions: joy and anger.
As a happily married gay man, I just want to say: Thank you, Obama, for standing up for human rights. #DOMA
stevesilberman
stevesilberman
#DOMA is unconstitutional according to #Obama! Let the courts decide that!!!! #tcot
Benjamin Sauceda
Benjammin37
By
Melissa Bell
| February 23, 2011; 1:05 PM ET
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WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME! The Obama Administration obviously dropped its defense of DOMA, because from a Constitutional standpoint there is no defense! DOMA sets up differing legal standards for Gay and Straight couples. Because of DOMA, even Gay couples who are legally married in Iowa or Massachusetts are unrecognized by the federal government for the purposes of tax law and Social Security; obvious this violates the 14th Amendment. Also, such couples become "UN-married" if they move across state lines, so DOMA violates the "Full Faith & Credit" clause. Thank goodness DOMA's days are finally numbered!
Posted by: PolishBear1 | February 23, 2011 1:57 PM | Report abuse
WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME! The Obama Administration obviously dropped its defense of DOMA, because from a Constitutional standpoint there is no defense! DOMA sets up differing legal standards for Gay and Straight couples. Because of DOMA, even Gay couples who are legally married in Iowa or Massachusetts are unrecognized by the federal government for the purposes of tax law and Social Security; obviously this violates the 14th Amendment. Also, such couples become "UN-married" if they move across state lines, so DOMA violates the "Full Faith & Credit" clause. Thank goodness DOMA's days are finally numbered!
Posted by: PolishBear1 | February 23, 2011 1:58 PM | Report abuse
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