The U.S. House of Representatives held a vote Thursday evening on an amendment reaffirming the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In response to the vote (which was carried with a heavy Republican majority and a final tally of 248 in favor, 175 against), HRC president Joe Solmonese issued a response in which he called the amendment “completely unnecessary.”
According to Solmonese, the amendment “only serves to cloud the debate over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal by pointlessly injecting the issue of marriage equality into the conversation.”
Solmonese emphasized that the Pentagon is already aware of the military’s obligation to recognize DOMA, and argued that House Republicans – led by Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina – are merely indulging an endless desire to “play politics” with LGBT issues.
“It will be up to the Senate to reject the House’s return to using LGBT Americans as a wedge issue,” Solmonese concluded.
The final vote results for the DOMA amendment can be found here.
