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Loading ...Rallies nationwide support same-sex marriage
01.12.2009 12:00pm EST
(New York City) Same-sex couples and their supporters held demonstrations across the country over the weekend calling for the repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, similar laws in several dozen states, and the legalization of gay marriage.
The rallies were organized by the group Join the Impact.In California, demonstrations were staged in a number of cities including Pasadena and San Diego, with protestors also denouncing Proposition 8, the voter initiative that passed last November limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples.
Prop 8 overrode the California Supreme Court ruling last year that opened up same-sex marriage in the state. Following the election, LGBT rights groups filed suit with the high court charging the vote was illegal in that it attempted to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone.
The court is expected to hear oral arguments later this year.
In Boston, about 200 people rallied outside City Hall to urge President-elect Obama to keep his campaign promise to fight for the repeal of federal DOMA.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, but DOMA prevents those marriages from being recognized by the federal government or other states.
Many of the demonstrators held signs saying “Obama Don’t DOMA”.
Addressing the crowd were US Rep. Barney Frank and Mayor Thomas M. Menino, both Democrats.
“We can no longer tolerate people who tolerate intolerance,” said Frank, one of three openly gay members of Congress.
“I hope this rally inspires everyone here to write or call their representatives and senators,” he said.
In Chicago, dozens of protesters braved icy cold winds to march in the Loop.
Other protests were held in Montgomery, Alabama; Greenville, North Carolina and Wichita, Kansas; Seattle, Washington; and Boise, Idaho.
Does anyone really think that Obama or Congress will seriously repeal DOMA anytime soon?
It would take them 10 minutes to have a vote on this, but obviously they would be too timid to take on such a “divisive” issue and spend costly political capital.
The Equality Agenda is basically:
1. repealing DOMA
2. recognising civil union / marriages as “marriages or spouses” in terms of federal law
3. Banning discrimination in Employment (ENDA)
4. Banning discrimination in the military (Ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell)
5. Expanding hate crime legistlation to include GLBT people
I think numbers 3 and 5 might be able to passed without causing major uproar. 4 will be a fight with the old guard at the Pentagon. And, 1 and 2 would be difficult.
Let us remember that even Obama is still captive to discrimation and separate but equal thinking, which is really sad considering someone of his intellect and background.
Nevertheless, it might help to support equality minded politicians. Ted Kennedy comes to mind.
DOMA as a whole will never be repealed because doing so would force all state governments to recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts, and because non-residents can be married in MA, repealing DOMA would have the effect of overturning all state laws and constitutional bans against same-sex marriage.
Very few in Congress will vote to overturn DOMA (it passed by a HUGE margin in 1996) and the Supreme Court has so far refused to hear any cases challenging it.
I wouldn’t hold out hope for a repeal of DOMA until 3/4 or more of the states legalize same-sex marriage and I don’t see that happening in my lifetime.
And Dallas, Austin, and Denton, TX! http://www.myspace.com/queerliberaction