Sen. Tom Udall Announces He Will Co-Sponsor Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

Thank you U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)! There's exciting news this morning on the fight for marriage equality for same-sex couples. New Mexico's Junior Senator Tom Udall released a video today (above, transcript below) announcing he will sign on as a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act of 2011 (S. 598), which would effectively repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed during the Clinton administration.

The repeal legislation, originally sponsored by Sen. Diane Feinstein, would stop the federal government from refusing to recognize same-sex marriages that are performed legally in the states that allow it. In essence, it would return the governance of civil marriage to the states, where it has historically been regulated. Sen. Udall becomes the 23rd Senator to sign on as a co-sponsor of the bill (see list).

In his statement today, Sen. Udall stresses he believes the states should have jurisdiction over marriage, and that, according to the U.S. constitution, "the federal government ought to respect it. If a state allows same-sex marriage, then the federal government must also recognize those marriages as valid. To do otherwise would be unconstitutional."

Sen. Udall also discusses the essential unfairness of the DOMA, noting that the current law means that same-sex couples married in states that permit it have "entered into a valid legal contract that the federal government doesn't recognize. It means they're ineligible for many federal rights like Social Security survivors and spousal benefits, the right to care for a spouse, file joint tax returns, or get benefits at work for federal employees."

"The federal government isn't respecting the decisions of these states and that's unconstitutional," Sen. Udall states.

Sen. Udall explains that he's cosponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act because it would "guarantee that legally entered same-sex marriages are recognized by the federal government and that they come with the same federal benefits that all other married couples receive."

"This legislation is fair and in accordance with the Constitution and I'm proud to co-sponsor it," Sen. Udall concludes.

And we're proud to have Sen. Udall representing us in the U.S. Senate!

Sen. Udall's decision comes after the Democracy for New Mexico blog joined with the Courage Campaign and ProgressNow New Mexico in a campaign to urging both of New Mexico's Senators to co-sponsor the repeal legislation. More than 1,000 of you signed a  asking that they support the bill that was to the offices of Senators Udall and Jeff Bingaman on May 2 by renowned LGBT rights activist Cleve Jones and same-sex couple Noreen Richards and Bernadette Koh (see video). Many of those signing the petition included very moving and passionate statements of support for equality for same-sex couples and the entire LGBT community. You can read them .

Thanks to every single one of you who signed the petition. The Courage Campaign is continuing their campaign to get co-sponsors for the DOMA repeal bill from every state. We hope you'll join us in supporting their important effort! If one person does not have his or her full civil rights, nobody does.

Full Transcript of Video:

Hi, I’m Tom Udall.

I've long believed that for issues relating to marriage, decisions need to happen at the state-level. And if the states have that responsibility, then the federal government ought to respect it.

If a state allows same-sex marriage, then the federal government must also recognize those marriages as valid. To do otherwise would be unconstitutional.

In 1996, Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA. This law prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. It also let states refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states.

In the fifteen years since then, same-sex marriages have become legal in five states and the District of Columbia.

So what does that mean for same-sex couples who get married in these states?

It means they've entered into a valid legal contract that the federal government doesn't recognize.

It means they're ineligible for many federal rights like Social Security survivors and spousal benefits, the right to care for a spouse, file joint tax returns, or get benefits at work for federal employees.

The federal government isn't respecting the decisions of these states and that's unconstitutional.

That's why I'm co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act. It would repeal DOMA and guarantee that legally entered same-sex marriages are recognized by the federal government and that they come with the same federal benefits that all other married couples receive.

This legislation is fair and in accordance with the Constitution and I'm proud to co-sponsor it.