Supporters like you have already generated 155,768 signatures on this petition. Help get to 175,000!
House Republicans are dumping more and more money into their fight to uphold DOMA, but the Senate Judiciary Committee is pressing ahead with the Respect for Marriage Act – historic legislation that would repeal DOMA once and for all. DOMA deprives same-sex couples of over 1,100 federal rights, benefits, and responsibilities of marriage. It's not right, and it's time for repeal. HRC is delivering your signed petition to the U.S. Senate to remind lawmakers that we're counting on them to act. Sign the petition Now!
Dear Senator,
As a supporter of the Human Rights Campaign, I am writing to urge you to push forward the Respect for Marriage Act (S.598), introduced by Sen. Feinstein. As you know, this bill would repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, and provide equal federal marriage rights to legally committed same-sex couples.
The Human Rights Campaign has been fighting to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act ever since it was enacted -- from the delivery of over 340,000 petition signatures and letters to Congress in just the past two years to HRC President Joe Solmonese's testimony at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in July.
It's time to advance the Respect for Marriage Act. With the Senate Judiciary Committee now moving this bill forward, I'm counting on you to demonstrate a commitment to the cause of equality by doing everything in your power to repeal DOMA.
I and a majority of Americans support the repeal of this law, and I thank you for considering our position at this critical time for the issue of equality.
Sincerely,
{Your Name}
tags: repeal, doma, gay, marriage, lgbt, same-sex, equal, rights, respect, act, defense, senate, congress, republicans, human, lesbian, transgender
Friday, November 11, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Top 10 Reasons to Legalize Gay Marriage
Written by a straight man, this article highlights some of the best reasons to support legalizing gay marriage. Marriage is the key ingredient for a happiness and stability and this shouldn't be denied from gay persons. If America wants to call itself free there simply is no other option.
1. It's simply the right thing to do.
2. Gay parents have been proven to be just as good parents as straight parents. Also, there are countless children waiting to be adopted and gay persons in wedlock are more likely to have children.
3. Children that are raised by gay parents have no more chance of being gay children than any other child. This is a notorious lie that has been perpetuated by hate and the extreme conservative right-wing of American politics. Being gay results from nature, not nurture.
4. To support the troops. "Don't Ask Don't Tell" has been repealed but this doesn't alleviate stress caused by not allowing gay partners to marry. It's not good policy to let gay combatants fight for their country with the uncertainty they have for what might happen to their partner if they die while fighting.
5. To give survivors rights to gay couples. Currently gay partners are not able to fully exercise their right to handle the legal matters of their dying partner and cannot fully be there for them in their final years. This is an insult to humanity to deny gay persons of the dignity of having their most loved and trusted person in the world be there during their last days.
6. For economy stability. Not just for the tax credits that straight married people enjoy, but also for the stability of the American economy. Allowing gay people to get married would give a growing population increased spending power. The tax benefits and extension of credit with two incomes in a married relationship could increase spending in industries such as durable goods, home improvement, automobiles, childcare, services, event planning, the economic benefits are endless!
7. Gay people deserve happiness just as much as straight people. Happiness derives from the love and devotion that comes from marriage. While it's true that many gay people are happy with the arrangement they currently have. They have two incomes, successful careers, and if they don't have children they more have more disposable income, but they commonly still feel like something is missing.
8. To reduce depression in adolescents. Giving gay children the hope that they can get married some day and have children in a socially acceptable country will reduce depression among gay young people. Straight children are allowed this freedom and should be no surprise that many gay teenagers experience extreme depression.
9. To reduce gay bullying in schools. If we legalize gay marriage, there will be one less reason for gay children to get teased. They will be less reluctant to be ashamed of their personal preference and will have hope that they can be just as happy as their straight counterparts.
10. To help end the hate and intolerance of homosexuality in America. Just because America has a long history of prejudice that's no reason to keep perpetuating it. The unwelcoming fringes of our society seems to become accustomed to moving from alienating one demographic to another and the resistance to gay marriage is just another example of prejudice in America.
Learn more about supporting legalizing gay marriage and the growing social movement at:
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Defense-of-Gay-Marriage-Act-DGMA/311234748892353?sk=wall
The Defense of Gay Marriage Act (DGMA) - Started in 2011 by the people supporting gay rights and human rights in America and throughout the world!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6662106
legalize, reasons, top, legal, gay, marriage, lgbt, rights, equal, law, doma, repeal, lesbian, transgender, homosexual, partner, domestic, partnership, couples
1. It's simply the right thing to do.
2. Gay parents have been proven to be just as good parents as straight parents. Also, there are countless children waiting to be adopted and gay persons in wedlock are more likely to have children.
3. Children that are raised by gay parents have no more chance of being gay children than any other child. This is a notorious lie that has been perpetuated by hate and the extreme conservative right-wing of American politics. Being gay results from nature, not nurture.
4. To support the troops. "Don't Ask Don't Tell" has been repealed but this doesn't alleviate stress caused by not allowing gay partners to marry. It's not good policy to let gay combatants fight for their country with the uncertainty they have for what might happen to their partner if they die while fighting.
5. To give survivors rights to gay couples. Currently gay partners are not able to fully exercise their right to handle the legal matters of their dying partner and cannot fully be there for them in their final years. This is an insult to humanity to deny gay persons of the dignity of having their most loved and trusted person in the world be there during their last days.
6. For economy stability. Not just for the tax credits that straight married people enjoy, but also for the stability of the American economy. Allowing gay people to get married would give a growing population increased spending power. The tax benefits and extension of credit with two incomes in a married relationship could increase spending in industries such as durable goods, home improvement, automobiles, childcare, services, event planning, the economic benefits are endless!
7. Gay people deserve happiness just as much as straight people. Happiness derives from the love and devotion that comes from marriage. While it's true that many gay people are happy with the arrangement they currently have. They have two incomes, successful careers, and if they don't have children they more have more disposable income, but they commonly still feel like something is missing.
8. To reduce depression in adolescents. Giving gay children the hope that they can get married some day and have children in a socially acceptable country will reduce depression among gay young people. Straight children are allowed this freedom and should be no surprise that many gay teenagers experience extreme depression.
9. To reduce gay bullying in schools. If we legalize gay marriage, there will be one less reason for gay children to get teased. They will be less reluctant to be ashamed of their personal preference and will have hope that they can be just as happy as their straight counterparts.
10. To help end the hate and intolerance of homosexuality in America. Just because America has a long history of prejudice that's no reason to keep perpetuating it. The unwelcoming fringes of our society seems to become accustomed to moving from alienating one demographic to another and the resistance to gay marriage is just another example of prejudice in America.
Learn more about supporting legalizing gay marriage and the growing social movement at:
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Defense-of-Gay-Marriage-Act-DGMA/311234748892353?sk=wall
The Defense of Gay Marriage Act (DGMA) - Started in 2011 by the people supporting gay rights and human rights in America and throughout the world!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6662106
legalize, reasons, top, legal, gay, marriage, lgbt, rights, equal, law, doma, repeal, lesbian, transgender, homosexual, partner, domestic, partnership, couples
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Obama Supports Gay Marriage and Equal Rights for the LGBT Community!
Guess who else supports gay marriage? Obama does!! Read his letter about his support to the LGBT community:
Letter from President Obama to the LGBT community, Feb 28, 2008:
Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees. And as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DONE!), and I have worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system.
The next president must also address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. When it comes to prevention, we do not have to choose between values and science. While abstinence education should be part of any strategy, we also need to use common sense. We should have age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception. We should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat infection within our prison population. And we should lift the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. In addition, local governments can protect public health by distributing contraceptives. We also need a president who’s willing to confront the stigma – too often tied to homophobia – that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. I confronted this stigma directly in a speech to evangelicals at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, and will continue to speak out as president. That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones – and that’s what I’ve done throughout my career. I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I talked about the need to fight homophobia when I announced my candidacy for President, and I have been talking about LGBT equality to a number of groups during this campaign – from local LGBT activists to rural farmers to parishioners at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King once preached.
Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.
Americans are yearning for leadership that can empower us to reach for what we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that can appeal to the best parts of the human spirit. Join with me, and I will provide that leadership. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.
Article Source: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS
Read More Here
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
Letter from President Obama to the LGBT community, Feb 28, 2008:
Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees. And as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DONE!), and I have worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system.
The next president must also address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. When it comes to prevention, we do not have to choose between values and science. While abstinence education should be part of any strategy, we also need to use common sense. We should have age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception. We should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat infection within our prison population. And we should lift the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. In addition, local governments can protect public health by distributing contraceptives. We also need a president who’s willing to confront the stigma – too often tied to homophobia – that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. I confronted this stigma directly in a speech to evangelicals at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, and will continue to speak out as president. That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones – and that’s what I’ve done throughout my career. I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I talked about the need to fight homophobia when I announced my candidacy for President, and I have been talking about LGBT equality to a number of groups during this campaign – from local LGBT activists to rural farmers to parishioners at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King once preached.
Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.
Americans are yearning for leadership that can empower us to reach for what we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that can appeal to the best parts of the human spirit. Join with me, and I will provide that leadership. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.
Article Source: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS
Read More Here
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
Justice Department will no longer defend DOMA against constitutional challenges
News Flash: Justice Department will no longer defend DOMA against constitutional challenges
The Obama administration recently announced that the U.S. Department of Justice will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act against challenges questioning whether the law is constitutional.
President Barack Obama has long opposed the act, and during the campaign he would work for its repeal. Nevertheless, the U.S. Department of Justice defended the law when it was challenged.
Read More Here
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
The Obama administration recently announced that the U.S. Department of Justice will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act against challenges questioning whether the law is constitutional.
President Barack Obama has long opposed the act, and during the campaign he would work for its repeal. Nevertheless, the U.S. Department of Justice defended the law when it was challenged.
Read More Here
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
1,100+ Federal Legal Rights for Straight Marriages, ZERO Federal Legal Rights for Gay Partners!
Reality Check: 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits are provided to straight marriages, and ZERO of these rights are given to gay couples. This inequality is just plain WRONG! Help us increase this number for the LGBT community as soon as possible.
If you are unsure if you support Gay Marriage just ask yourself, would you prevent your straight loved one from getting married and being happy with their partner? If the answer is no than you belong with us. If you're on the fence, just let go of your programming and become open minded. Gay people deserve to get married, and deserve the same rights the rest of us all enjoy. This is America after all.
Repeal DOMA Now!
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
Thanks,
Justin
If you are unsure if you support Gay Marriage just ask yourself, would you prevent your straight loved one from getting married and being happy with their partner? If the answer is no than you belong with us. If you're on the fence, just let go of your programming and become open minded. Gay people deserve to get married, and deserve the same rights the rest of us all enjoy. This is America after all.
Repeal DOMA Now!
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
Thanks,
Justin
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