Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) will hold a press conference at 10 am EDT to announce a lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA defines marriage at the federal level as a union between one man and one woman. Enacted in 1996, DOMA also prevents the federal recognition of legal same sex marriages in state’s that allow them. The law also prevents the federal recognition of civil unions and domestic partnerships.
SLDN asserts that DOMA is unconstitutional and also challenges the prevention of same sex spousal benefits by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The lead plantiffs in the case are a legally married lesbian couple from Massachusetts. There are a myriad of legal challenges to DOMA making their way through the federal courts but the Obama administration has decided not to mount a defense of the law. President Obama does not support DOMA and believes it may be unconstitutional.
Since the Obama administration has vowed not to defend the law, Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner has hired a private attorney to mount a defense at taxpayer expense.
Mored to come after the press conference.
