Rep. Martin Heinrich to Sign On as Original Co-Sponsor of DOMA Repeal Bill

Great news. A bill to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is expected to be introduced in the U. S. House by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) on Tuesday of next week. I've learned from a credible source that more than 60 House members have so far agreed to sign on as original co-sponsors, and that Rep. Martin Heinrich (D, NM-01) is one of them. Thank you Rep. Heinrich! Now that's change we can believe in.

Rep. Nadler has explained that the legislation would only affect same-sex marriages -- not civil unions or domestic partnerships. However, a "certainty provision" in the bill would allow gay couples living in a state where marriage is not recognized to go to another state to marry and qualify for federal benefits when they return home.

Here's a chart that lists some of the most harmful effects of DOMA as identified in a recent of its members conducted by Human Rights Campaign. The more than 50,000 survey responses show the concrete harms DOMA brings to the lives of LGBT Americans and their families, and were delivered to Congress.

You can encourage the Congress and President Obama to pass legislation to repeal DOMA ASAP at the web page >RepealDOMANow.org.