Obama Ceases Defending Federal Marriage Law
- Nathan Black - Christian Post Reporter
- Feb 24, 2011
President Barack Obama has instructed the Justice Department not to defend federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman in two lawsuits.
Though the Obama administration had defended the Defense of Marriage Act since taking office two years ago, the President concluded – "after careful consideration" – that he will "no longer assert its constitutionality in court."
"Much of the legal landscape has changed in the 15 years since Congress passed DOMA," says a statement released by the Department of Justice Wednesday. "The Supreme Court has ruled that laws criminalizing homosexual conduct are unconstitutional. Congress has repealed the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Several lower courts have ruled DOMA itself to be unconstitutional."
The two lawsuits at issue were filed last November on behalf of same-sex couples in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management and the American Civil Liberties Union filed Windsor v. United States.
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