Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced Thursday that the committee intends to hold the first-ever congressional hearing concerning DOMA repeal in the coming weeks.
The announcement follows actions taken earlier this year by Senators including California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand on behalf of the Respect for Marriage Act, a legislative measure that would repeal the DOMA on the grounds that it discriminates against LGBT individuals and couples by barring them from equal marriage rights and benefits.
Leahy, a Democratic senator from Vermont and sponsor of a recent proposal for immigration reform on behalf of same-sex couples, told the press that the hearing will be entitled, “S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families.”
In response to Thursday’s announcement, HRC president Joe Solmonese thanked Leahy, together with Senators Feinstein and Gillibrand, for leading the fight to end same-sex marriage discrimination within the federal government. He said that the government “shouldn’t be in the business of picking which marriages it likes and which it doesn’t,” and noted that DOMA is a prime obstacle in keeping LGBT families from enjoying equal marriage rights.
The congressional hearing will be webcast live. Updates regarding the date and time of the hearing will be announced once the event is scheduled.
