Senate committee to hold DOMA repeal vote in November

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont

From MetroWeekly: Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced that his committee, which held a hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act earlier this year, will hold a mark-up session and vote on the bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act next month.

In a statement announcing the news, Leahy said, “The march for equality continues, and now is the time to ensure equality for gay and lesbian Americans who are lawfully married.”

Of his plans on the bill, he said, “Next month, I will call up the Respect for Marriage Act for debate and a vote in the Judiciary Committee. The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents thousands of American families from being protected by laws that help secure other American families. This is part of the nation’s continuing fight for civil rights for all Americans.”