EA goes to war against DOMA

Gay Gamers rejoice! The Video Game Mothership known as EA are taking their stand against the anti-gay establishment very seriously. 

They are going to war on DOMA!

The video game company signed an amicus brief with 70 other employers, including the city of Seattle, Gap Inc. and Xerox, urging the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to find DOMA unconstitutional. 

"DOMA presents a number of problems for businesses like EA," the company wrote in a statement. "It creates regulatory, tax, and discrimination complications for employers, and that's why we're standing against it. The underlying lawsuit impacts all employers no matter how big or small, and no matter the industry, and we encourage other business to join these efforts."

Wow, it's nice to see the video game giant get into the equality fight.

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Justice Department asks Supreme Court to review 2 DOMA Challenges

Yesterday, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to hear not one, but two challenges to DOMA.

The info is a lot of legal talk, but this piece from Lambda Legal may be easier to understand:

This development highlights the desire by all, the government included, to resolve this issue quickly. It is clear to us, to the Solicitor General and to the Department of Justice that DOMA’s days are numbered. The last four courts to consider the question have all found Section 3 of DOMA—which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex couples’ valid marriages—to be unconstitutional. The Justice Department’s action may speed the day when the Supreme Court reaches the issue. Lambda Legal and Morrison & Foerster stand ready to argue for fair treatment for Karen Golinski and her spouse, Amy Cunninghis, in any court, at any time—and we welcome this opportunity to finally put DOMA out of its, and our, misery.

There are loving, married same-sex couples, and grieving lesbian and gay widows and widowers around the country who are being hurt by the government’s discriminatory actions—that’s why there are DOMA cases pending in several jurisdictions, brought on behalf of many plaintiffs. Every one of their stories demonstrates that DOMA is an unfair and discriminatory law that violates the Constitution. While it is up to the Supreme Court to decide whether or not to hear Golinski now, we are confident that DOMA will be found unconstitutional—and the sooner, the better.

This is getting good. More to come.

House GOP takes DOMA case to the Supreme Court

The crazed House GOP has really gone overboard. These bastards has asked the Supreme Court to review the DOMA case.

Chris Geidner reports:

In a filing obtained by Metro Weekly, BLAG asks the Supreme Court, which must agree to consider the case, to take the appeal for three reasons: (1) the constitutionality of DOMA Section 3 is "an issue of great national importance" and raises separation-of-powers questions; (2) the First Circuit decision conflicts with the Supreme Court's 1972 decision in Baker v. Nelson and other appellate decisions; and (3) the First Circuit "invented a new standard of equal protection review." 

In the course of the filing, called a petition for a writ of certiorari, BLAG states that "[t]he executive branch has ... abdicated its traditional role of defending the constitutionality of duly-enacted statutes."

BLAG, which voted 3-2 to defend DOMA in court challenges, is made up of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). Pelosi and Hoyer have objected to the filings.

When will the GOP just stop? If the Supreme Court take this case, this will be on the docket with the Affirmative Action case. What a season that will be.

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Federal Appeals Court stated that DOMA Unconstitutionally denies federal benefits to Married Gay Couples

Another fantastic blow to DOMA! Today, a federal appeals court said that DOMA denies federal benefits to married gay couples and it's unconstitutional.

AP News writes:

In its unanimous ruling, the three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston said the 1996 law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman discriminates against gay couples because it doesn't give them the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples.

The court didn't rule on the law's other politically combustible provision, which said states without same-sex marriage cannot be forced to recognize gay unions performed in states where it's legal. It also wasn't asked to address whether gay couples have a constitutional right to marry.

And

 The appeals court agreed with a lower court judge who ruled in 2010 that the law is unconstitutional because it interferes with the right of a state to define marriage and denies married gay couples federal benefits given to heterosexual married couples, including the ability to file joint tax returns.

Soon there won't be much left of this hateful law. I'm getting excited.

Press Conference Following DOMA Arguments at U.S. Court of Appeals - WATCH

Yesterday, an appeals court heard arguments on the constitutionality of DOMA. Several couples addressed the court about their experiences in hopes to destroy the hateful law.
Afterwards, there was a press conference discussing what happened in court

For more on this story, go here

Mitt Romney gets Called Out by a Gay Vet over DOMA- VIDEO

WATCH: Barney Frank Challenges Newt 'The Hut' Gingrich on DOMA

Herman Cain: 'I would overturn the Supreme Court if they overturned DOMA’ - VIDEO

Herman Cain continues his one man sh*t show in these debates. Last night, he said he would overturn the Supreme Court if they overturned DOMA...

The real gag is no one else had anything to say. NOM's bloated Ken doll should have realized that gay marriage is not the candidates' main issue.

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NOM Lies about DOMA and the Defense Authorization Bill

NOM lies... Well, y'all knew that. But check out their latest bit of foolishness

That's not true, it's a lie (I'm using my best Christina Crawford voice). Washington Blade shed some light  on the matter:

Fred Sainz, vice president of communications for the Human Rights Campaign, said his organization has no knowledge of any intention to amend the defense bill with DOMA repeal. The largest LGBT organization, HRC is responsible for lobbying on Capitol Hill and would likely be looped in on any such plans.

Sainz said the mailing is a “red herring” and an attempt to trick NOM’s supporters into thinking the organization is working on something after suffering a series of defeats.

Among the recent failures, Sainz said, is the legalization of marriage equality in New York and high-level court decisions against NOM on the non-disclosure of their donors.

“Their members and their donors are, obviously, upset at their very poor performance,” Sainz said. “NOM needs to give them a red herring that equals hope or shows that they are working on something no matter how big of a lie it is. They’re trying to raise money with this is what they’re trying to do. They are trying to give the sense that something is going on when this is not something that is in the works.”

 See? NOM lies.

Senate panel approves DOMA Repeal Legislation

Yeah! Good news about repealing DOMA!

The Senate Judiciary Committee reported the legislation to the floor by a vote of 10-8 along a party-line basis. Each of the 10 Democrats on the panel voted in favor of the legislation, while all 8 Republicans present opposed it.

The committee vote marks the first-time ever that any component of Congress has voted to repeal DOMA, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage, since it was first enacted in 1996.
Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in his opening statement said legislation to repeal DOMA, which is known as the Respect for Marriage Act, is necessary because “thousands of American families are now being treated unfairly by their federal government.”

“They are shunted aside — singled out from all other marriages recognized by their states,” Leahy said. “This unfairness must end. The Respect for Marriage Act would provide for the equal treatment of all lawful treatment of all lawful marriages in this country by repealing DOMA.”

Making strides, making strides.

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WATCH: Clips from the DOMA Hearing

Grassley talks mess


Al Franken checks Grassley


Sessions runs his mouth


Clarification on benefits for gay couples

WATCH: A Gay Couple faces Deportation, Speaks Out about DOMA

WATCH: Rev. Al Sharpton Discuss Obama and DOMA

VIDEO: Al Franken puts Focus on the Family on Blast at the DOMA Repeal Hearing

President Obama Supports the DOMA Repeal Bill

Oooh Weee! Today the White House press secretary Jay Carney said that my Boo supports the Respect for Marriage Act.

Metro Weekly via Chris Geidner has the full exchange:

Metro Weekly: The president has said in the past that he opposes the Defense of Marriage Act, but he is yet to endorse the Respect for Marriage Act, which is the specific piece of legislation --

Carney: Senator [Dianne] Feinstein [(D-Calif.)], yeah.

Metro Weekly: -- aimed to repeal the bill. Tomorrow, the Senate will hold the first hearing into that bill. Is the administration ready to endorse that bill?

Carney: I can tell you that the President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors. He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act, introduced by Sen. Feinstein and Congressman [Jerrold] Nadler [(D-N.Y.)], which would take DOMA off the books once and for all. This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.

Metro Weekly: A follow-up. In line with that, the administration is also still in court defending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." When is -- Tomorrow, also will be three weeks since the President said that certification will come in "weeks, not months." Has the President spoken with Secretary Panetta or Adm. Mullen about the certification since he made that statement, and where does it stand?

Carney: I don't know if the President has had those conversations either with Secretary Panetta or his predecessor or Adm. Mullen. What the president said remains the case and our expectation, but I don't have any more information for you on that.

See, I knew my Boo would come through.

The Official Witness List for the DOMA Repeal

Here's the press release for Wednesday's hearing for the DOMA repeal:

OFFICIAL HEARING NOTICE / WITNESS LIST:

July 12, 2011

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing entitled “S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families” for Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

By order of the Chairman.
Witness List
Hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary On “S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families”
 
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226
10:00 a.m.

Panel I
Susan M. Murray
Ferrisburgh, VT

Ron Wallen
Indio, CA

Andrew Sorbo
Cheshire, CT

Panel II
Joe Solmonese
President
The Human Rights Campaign
Washington, DC

Evan Wolfson
Founder and Executive Director
Freedom to Marry
New York, NY

Hearing to repeal DOMA scheduled on Wednesday July 20th

Senator Patrick Leahy said the hearing to repeal DOMA starts on July the 20th.

Here's more:

The hearing will be the first time Congress has heard testimony on legislation that would end federal marriage discrimination against gay and lesbian couples. 

 

“With thousands of loving and committed couples in New York set to marry this month, now is the perfect time for the Senate to begin the process of repealing the discriminatory so-called Defense of Marriage Act,” said Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon.  “Until DOMA’s enactment, the federal government had always honored marriages celebrated in the states. It’s time for Congress to end this gay exception and allow legally married same-sex couples access to the tools and security available to all other couples to build a life together and protect their families.”

So the showdown starts next week. Hope C-span is on it.

 

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House approves Anti-Gay Amendment in the Defense budget

Sexy isn't she

Yesterday, Rep. Virginia Foxx put up an anti-gay amendment in the Defense Department budget:

Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, who represent’s North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District, attached her amendment to the Department of Defense’s budget for the 2012 fiscal year. The amendment requires enforcement of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and bans any use of funds for “benefits, such as housing, education, medical services, transportation, etc., for same-sex couples on the same basis as opposite-sex married couples,” 

The bill passed 248-175. This will probably fail in Senate and die with the end of DOMA. Still, it is unbelievable this horrid woman was able to do this. Virginia is playing a bad hand and she will pay for this mess. But the shocker is the number of Dems who supported the She-Crow's efforts (via The New Civil Rights Movement):

Reps. Jason Altmire (D-​Pa.), John Barrow (D-​Ga.), Sanford Bishop (D-​Ga.), Dan Boren (D-​Okla.), Ben Chandler (D-​Ky.), Jerry Costello (D-​Ill.), Mark Critz (D-​Pa.), Henry Cuellar (D-​Texas), Joe Donnelly (D-​Ind.), Gene Green (D-​Texas), Tim Holden (D-​Pa.), Larry Kissell (D-N.C.), Dan Lipinski (D-​Ill.), Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), James Matheson (D-​Utah), Collin Peterson (D-​Minn.), Nich Rahall (D-W.V.), Mike Ross (D-​Ark.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.).

Keep these cretins in mind, y'all. They need to be held accountable for supporting this Tramp. They should be back in office.

The Senate plans to hold hearing on the DOMA repeal in the Next Few Weeks

Sen. Patrick Leahy

Hot news from D.C. The Senate will take on the repeal of DOMA in the upcoming weeks.
Washington Blade has the scoop

A Senate committee is set in the next few weeks to hear testimony on repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, although details about the planned hearing were scant as of Thursday.

According to a Senate Democratic aide, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, intends to hold a hearing on DOMA repeal “in the next few weeks.” A more definitive date for when the hearing would take place or the individuals who would be invited as witnesses weren’t immediate known.

In a statement, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) praised Leahy for his decision to hold a hearing on DOMA repeal. Both Gillibrand and Leahy are sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA.

 This is good and possibly a turning point if this hits the ground running. I'll keep you posted.

Minnesota Democrats push to end their state version of DOMA

As the GOP in Minnesota try to ban gay marriage, the Democrats came back hard with a bill (the Marriage and Family Protection Act) that would repeal their state version of DOMA.

Here's some more info:

“Marriage is a legal institution recognized by the state to promote stable relationships and to protect people in those relationships and their children,” the bill states. “Minnesota’s current marriage law discriminates against same-sex couples, denying them and their families rights and responsibilities, including the right to pension and Social Security survivor’s benefits, the right to family and medical leave, and numerous other benefits and obligations. The state has an interest in encouraging stable relationships regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the partners and the entire community benefits when couples undertake the mutual obligations of marriage.”


The bill removes language from Minnesota statutes stemming from the 1997 Defense of Marriage Act. Instead, statutes that refer to “husband” and “wife” would also refer to “spouse.”


Doug Benson of Marriage Equality Minnesota, which helped draft a similar bill last year, said the bill isn’t likely to go anywhere.


“With little chance of passage this biennium, it is largely a symbolic gesture, but symbols are important,” he said. “We are pushing forward toward equality in the face of our oppressors’ onslaught,” he added, referring to a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

I think this is a solid gesture. I hope they try to stop this silly marriage ban.

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