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Gillibrand: “This Is A Major Step Forward” On DOMA Repeal Today

The results from the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Respect for Marriage Act is that they passed it ten to eight, likely along party lines.

One of the co-sponsors of that bill, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, issued this statement regarding today’s vote:

“This is a major step forward to end the discrimination that is currently enshrined into U.S. law, and I applaud Chairman Leahy for pushing us forward.

“Marriage is the true foundation for strong families. Every loving, committed couple deserves the basic human right to get married, start a family, and have access to all the same rights and privileges that my husband and I enjoy. No politician should stand in the way of this fact.

“If Democrats and Republicans can come together to do what’s right in New York, I know we can do the same in Congress to do what’s right for all of America. Now is the time to act on the federal level.”

Senator Gillibrand is joined by bill author Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and co-sponsored by Senators Leahy (D-Vt.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Daniel Akaka(D-Hawaii) in supporting this bill in the Senate. It is likely to get through the Senate or provoke a filibuster. It is unlikely that this bill will make it anywhere in the House despite evidence that opposing same-sex marriage may no longer be the hot button issue that it use to be.