Statement by the President on the Supreme Court Ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act
Statement by the President on the Supreme Court Ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act
I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the
Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It
treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and
lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and
our country is better off for it. We are a people who declared that we
are all created equal – and the love we commit to one another must be
equal as well.
This ruling is a victory for couples who have long fought for equal
treatment under the law; for children whose parents’ marriages will now
be recognized, rightly, as legitimate; for families that, at long last,
will get the respect and protection they deserve; and for friends and
supporters who have wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones
treated fairly and have worked hard to persuade their nation to change
for the better.
So we welcome today’s decision, and I’ve directed the Attorney
General to work with other members of my Cabinet to review all relevant
federal statutes to ensure this decision, including its implications for
Federal benefits and obligations, is implemented swiftly and smoothly.
On an issue as sensitive as this, knowing that Americans hold a wide
range of views based on deeply held beliefs, maintaining our nation’s
commitment to religious freedom is also vital. How religious
institutions define and consecrate marriage has always been up to those
institutions. Nothing about this decision – which applies only to civil
marriages – changes that.
The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that
millions of Americans hold in our hearts: when all Americans are
treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all
more free.
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Friends,
A few minutes ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the
discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), finally giving married,
same-sex couples full, equal treatment under federal law. This is
important for filing income taxes, getting Social Security benefits, and
a strong statement in support of equality. Today is an historic day,
and we should celebrate how far we've come.
But the fight is far from over.
The Michigan Democratic Party stands for marriage equality and for equal rights, both
at the state and federal levels. Michigan Democrats are pushing a
package of bills that would reverse the state ban on same-sex marriage,
allow gay marriages in other states to be recognized in Michigan, and
allow our LBGT allies to marry the persons they love.
Show your support for Michigan marriage equality today! Contribute $30 or more and get this shirt:
Thank you,
Garrett Arwa
Executive Director
Michigan Democratic Party