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| By Nate Beeler of the Columbus Dispatch |
Cartoon: DOMA Repeal
Civil unions are now officially NOT equal to marriage
The Washington Post reports that the Obama administration will not extend federal-worker benefits to domestic partners under the recent Supreme Court ruling that repealed part of the Defense of Marriage Act, meaning the government will treat civil unions differently than legal same-sex marriages.
And so, couples who are not legally married “will remain ineligible for most federal benefits programs.” However, any existing benefits provided to domestic partners will remain intact, OPM said.
That being said, same sex couples living anywhere in the U.S. will qualify for federal-employee benefits as long as they hold marriage licenses from any of the 13 states that recognize same-sex marriage, as well as from the District of Columbia, which has also legalized such unions.
Sounds like bad news for folks with civil unions, but there’s a bright side.
Civil unions were created as the “separate but equal” answer to same-sex marriage after the passage of DOMA. Since civil unions don’t hold federal status, clearly they don’t come close to “equal.” Such inequality could help four states (Hawaii, Colorado, Illinois and New Jersey which currently offer civil unions) move towards marriage equality.
For example, in New Jersey, the state Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples deserve complete equality, so civil unions offered there are now a violation of the state’s constitution.
(source)
Green card petition filed by gay couple is APPROVED
From The DOMA Project Facebook page: For the first time in U.S. history, a marriage based green card petition filed by a gay couple has been APPROVED.
Don’t miss TV – ABC News’ “This Week” this Sunday
This Sunday only on “This Week,”
• WikiLeaks founder and international man of mystery Julian Assange speaks out on the latest on Edward Snowden’s run from the law after his blockbuster leaks on the NSA’s secret surveillance programs. How has Assange and WikiLeaks aided Snowden as he seeks safe passage from Russia? Should Snowden and WikiLeaks’ partners be considered whistle-blowers or law-breakers? And what is the future of WikiLeaks as its controversial efforts remain under scrutiny around the world?
• Following this week’s historic Supreme Court decisions on the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin and National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown come to “This Week” to debate the future of same-sex marriage in the U.S.
• Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis reflects on her epic filibuster that drew national headlines and her fifteen minutes of fame.
(Via press release)
Rick Santorum can’t see the direction of history
As little Ricky marches to irrelevance…
Rick Santorum thinks the tide of marriage equality can still be turned back, and that the Supreme Court ruling overturning DOMA renders marriage in its current form “unconstitutional.”
But don’t worry. He’s wrong about things all the time. He’s used to it.
So, there.
Nepolitano – Binational gay couples will now be treated fairly
“I applaud the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor holding that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. This discriminatory law denied thousands of legally married same-sex couples many important federal benefits, including immigration benefits.
“I am pleased the Court agreed with the Administration’s position that DOMA’s restrictions violate the Constitution.
“Working with our federal partners, including the Department of Justice, we will implement the decision so that all married couples will be treated equally and fairly in the administration of our immigration laws.” – Homeland Security head Janet Napolitano, via press release.
Stephen Colbert on the repeal of DOMA
Stephen Colbert “worries” on the repeal of DOMA:
“Traditional marriage is now as defenseless as a freshman frat pledge about to go through the spanking machine….If DOMA is unconstitutional, that means the Constitution is gay.”
Funny stuff…
And here’s Stephen purposely discombobulating the Prop 8 decision:
Edie Windsor’s remarks on winning at the Supreme Court bringing down DOMA
In all the hoopla, one of the most important people to speak on the repeal of DOMA is Edie Windsor, who brought the case to court when her wife died and she was hit with a $360,000+ tax bill because the federal government didn’t recognize her marriage.
I’ve been strangely numb today about the rulings. I’m excited and happy, but it’s almost not real to me. It wasn’t until I saw this clip of Edie speak today that I felt something really moving about what has happened on this historic day.
This is history. For decades we’ll look back and know how important this day is, and how it will lead us to our future.
And, in great part, because this senior citizen who lived most of her life quietly decided to raise her voice, and in doing so has raised up so many of us.
Thank you, Edie Windsor.
Impact of DOMA decision – Extending federal benefits to service members and families
In response to the repeal of DOMA today, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the Pentagon will extend health care, housing, and additional federal benefits to the gay spouses of service members as soon as possible, the AP reports:
Defense officials estimate there are 18,000 same-sex couples in the active duty, National Guard and Reserves. It’s unclear how many of those are married.
The court ruling also could allow same-sex spouses to be buried at Arlington Cemetery. The Pentagon has said that by Oct. 1, it would extend a variety of benefits to same-sex partners, including access to on-base commissaries and some health and welfare programs.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi on Michele Bachmann – “Who cares?”
Ultra-conservative Congresswoman Michele Bachmann released a statement today on the marriage equality rulings by SCOTUS:
“No man, not even a Supreme Court, can undo what a holy God has instituted,” Ms. Bachmann said in a statement. “For thousands of years of recorded human history, no society has defended the legal standard of marriage as anything other than between man and woman.” She said the court action “will undermine the best interest of children and the best interests of the United States.”
Asked to react to Bachmann’s statement, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi summed up what increasing majorities of Americans feel about such strident opposition with a dismissive “Who cares?”
Here’s the video:
(source)