Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Law Demands Obama Must Effecitvely Take Stand on DOMA Within Five Weeks

Recently, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed a lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of same-sex married couples from Massachusetts employed by the federal government, being denied benefits.

DOMA bars the federal government from recognizing such marriages, but the government is not supposed to discriminate.

President Barack Obama promised during his campaign to seek repeal of DOMA, but ever since ascending to office, he's been practically mute on all LGBT rights issues.

Well now, he has to speak. The Department of Justice, which typically defends laws passed by Congress, has only until June 22 to respond.

A coalition of gay-rights groups have organized the campaign, Operation Doma Flip Flop, which urges supporters to send flip flop-shaped post cards to the White House urging Obama not to flip flop on his stance of DOMA and instruct the Department of Justice not to defend the law in court.

"Presidents have the option of refusing to defend a law they view as unconstitutional on its face, of which there is no clearer example than DOMA," the campaign website states. "President Obama himself has called the law 'abhorrent; and he’s a constitutional law professor. Given these premises, we feel that President Obama should refuse to defend DOMA and should instead instruct his Department of Justice to join GLAD in this historic lawsuit."

Go to Operation Doma Flip Flop or join them on Facebook to get involved!

Also, a petition has begun on Change.org that will go to President Obama and Congress urging them to repeal DOMA. GO SIGN IT.

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