WASHINGTON – The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has announced Nov. 3 as the date to begin debate on legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Leahy announced earlier this month his intention to schedule committee consideration of the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal DOMA.
The announced agenda includes a number of items held over from the panel’s last meeting, as well as the addition of the Respect for Marriage Act. The business meeting will be webcast live online.
The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced in March. The Senate bill (S.598) was introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and is cosponsored by 29 other senators. All 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee support the legislation. A House companion bill (H.R.1116) has bipartisan support, including 129 sponsors.
In July, Leahy chaired the first-ever congressional hearing on proposals to repeal DOMA. The Obama administration has announced the president’s support for the Respect for Marriage Act.
Equality still eludes gay service members. Thanks to DOMA legally married same-sex military spouses are denied health insurance, commissary, housing allowance and other base privileges as compared to their opposite-sex married counterparts. For those interested – http://OUTmilitary.com has been providing a supportive environment for friending, sharing and networking between Gay active military, vets and supporters since December, 2010.