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Friday, July 15, 2011
Another Victory in the Fight to Overturn DOMA: Sen. Jeff Bingaman Signs on as Cosponsor!
This past May, Senator Tom Udall agreed to sign on as a cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act of 2011 (S. 598) sponsored by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), which would effectively repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed during the Clinton administration. This week New Mexico's senior Senator Jeff Bingman joined Tom, becoming the 29th Senator to publicly support the proposed legislation -- and the 28th to cosponsor the bill.
Bravo, Senator Bingaman! Now both of New Mexico's U.S. Senators are on the record as strong supporters of getting rid of the awful legislation that denies same-sex couples married in states that allow it the more than 1,000 federal benefits afforded other married couples -- and allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. More important progress on the long and winding road to marriage equality in the USA.
July 20 Hearing on DOMA Repeal
And, as an email from Rick Jacobs, Chair and Founder of the Courage Campaign pointed out, the timing couldn't be better. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold the first-ever hearing on July 20th on whether to repeal DOMA. The hearing, led by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, will start next Wednesday at 8:00 AM MDT. Visit Prop8TrialTracker.com to follow along.
How We Got Here
The support of Senators Udall and Bingaman came 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 everyone who participated in the effort!
July 15, 2011 at 12:09 PM in Civil Liberties, GLBT Rights, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Sen. Tom Udall | Permalink
Comments
I am really proud of Senator Bingaman for signing this. The senator is always on the side of an issue we can all applaud. I do not see how this will ever be turned over. I was watching PBS last Saturday , Religion and Ethics show and found out that under the Bush Jr. Administration the federal government gave money to religious groups in order for them to encourage and train for lack of a better word couples to become married (straight) and to stay married. Obama continues the giving for this in his budget to the tune of $150 million. So as I see it you can't overturn Doma and keep giving money to religious groups to protect conventional marriage. They aren't lying to us but they are not exactly telling the truth either.
Posted by: Stephanie DuBois | Jul 15, 2011 4:20:58 PM
Thanks to Democracy for New Mexico, Progress Now New Mexico, Matt Brix and the people of your sunny state for making this happen. This blog organized, led and engaged. Together, we showed both of your excellent senators that the time for repeal is now.
We at Courage Campaign are honored to know and work with you.
Posted by: Rick Jacobs | Jul 15, 2011 5:12:57 PM
Now we must pressure anyone running for CD1 or Senate to say they too will support the repeal of DOMA period.
Posted by: Mary Ellen | Jul 16, 2011 5:21:19 AM
