Defending Marriage in Troubled Times

by Harry R. Jackson, Jr.

Recently the Obama administration filed court papers claiming a federal marriage law, called The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), discriminates against gays. This was surprising because at the same time government lawyers have been instructed to defend it. In fact, Department of Justice Department lawyers are seeking to dismiss a suit brought by a gay California couple challenging the 1996 Act. The administration's legal strategy so angered gay activists that they claimed the president is backtracking on campaign promises.

http://townhall.com/columnists/HarryRJacksonJr/2009/09/02/defending_marriage_in_troubled_times?page=full&comments=true

BREAKING NEWS: Obama comes down on DOMA

Jim Brown (OneNewsNow) and Associated Press -

A pro-family leader says the Obama administration is playing dishonest "Chicago-style politics" by defending the Defense of Marriage Act while undermining the law in a court filing. The Obama Justice Department today filed court papers claiming the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act discriminates against homosexuals. In the meantime, the DOJ lawyers are seeking to dismiss a suit brought by a homosexual California couple challenging DOMA. (See Associated Press story below)

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=646972

ABA meddles in marriage issue, members exit

Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow -

The American Bar Association House of Delegates has approved a resolution calling on Congress to repeal a section of the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, that denies federal marital benefits and protections to same-gender couples married in states where it's legal. OneNewsNow contacted Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver, dean of the law school at Liberty University, for reaction. He says the American Bar Association (ABA) is intruding on matters that have nothing to do with the general practice of law, pushing a political position that upsets many members.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=634228

Is White House coordinating attack on DOMA?

Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow -
Attorney Mat Staver is convinced the Obama administration is behind a federal lawsuit filed yesterday in Boston challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The first state to legalize homosexual "marriage" has filed suit against the federal government to overturn DOMA -- the Defense of Marriage Act -- which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. On Wednesday, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed the lawsuit in federal court in Boston. The suit claims DOMA interferes with the right of Massachusetts to define marriage as it sees fit.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=596486

Homosexual activists frustrated with Obama's agenda

Some good news regarding DOMA.

Jim Brown - OneNewsNow -
Impatient homosexual activists say Barack Obama should be moving more quickly to enact their social agenda, but he's running into a political reality that they want him to ignore. President Obama -- in his proclamation declaring June as "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month" -- reaffirmed his support for enhancing "hate crimes" laws, homosexual civil unions, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, homosexual adoption, and the repeal of the military's ban on openly homosexual service-members.

However, in the proclamation he did not repeat his campaign promise to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. In fact, his call for the repeal of DOMA has also been stripped from the White House website.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=555134

DOMA, Prop. 8 under legal attack in Calif.

Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow -

Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has been granted permission to intervene in a federal marriage case in California.

A same-gender pair has filed suit in federal court challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, the California constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage, alleging that passage of both violates the U.S. Constitution. The two men are asking the court to issue a broad injunction "mandating the use of gender-neutral terms in all legislation affection marriage."

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=533756

DOMA at risk in District of Columbia

Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow

In a preliminary vote, the District of Columbia city council has approved recognition of legal, same-gender "marriages" from other states. If it is approved on a second vote, the measure moves to Congress. Congress would than have 30 days to act -- and if it reaches that stage, it would be in direct opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel does not believe that will be permitted in light of nationwide sentiment over homosexual marriage.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=493778