News & Events

Press Advisory- DOMA petition

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2009
Contact: Kelley Moran (916-265-3390)
kelley@yesongaymarriage.com

Yes On Gay Marriage Petitions for Repeal of DOMA

Sacramento, CA – Yes on Gay Marriage is releasing a petition today calling for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In the past week, victories for marriage in Vermont and Iowa have opened the doors of marriage for even more LGBT couples. These couples, while able to enjoy the benefits and responsibilities of marriage in these states (as well as Massachusetts and Connecticut), these couples are still not recognized by the federal government.

Because of DOMA, passed in 1996 by Congress, legally married couples in these four states face discrimination at the federal level. They are denied over 1,100 rights and responsibilities granted to opposite-sex couples in their states. Repealing DOMA is important to removing this discrimination at the federal level.

In the same week that New York Governor David Patterson has introduced legislation to make New York the fifth state to recognize LGBT marriages, it is important that we remember the thousands of couples already being discriminated against by the federal government.

The signed petitions will be delivered to the administration and members of Congress as a clear sign of the support that exists for repealing DOMA.

About Yes on Gay Marriage (www.yesongaymarriage.com):

Yes on Gay Marriage is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, education, funding and resources necessary to work for the legalization of gay marriage in all fifty states and the recognition of gay marriage by the federal government.

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