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DOMA ruled unconstitutional

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge in Boston.  DOMA, signed into law by Bill Clinton, severely restricts the rights of gays and lesbians. across the country.  For example, unlike their heterosexual counterparts, they are denied full faith and credit under the law, so if a marriage is valid in one state, DOMA allows that other states need not recognize the validity of that gay marriage.  Another example:  married gays and lesbians cannot enjoy federal tax benefits and pension benefits.  We hope more and more judges see the light and reject this law that creates a federally-endorsed second-class status for gays and lesbians.  Even in New York (which is behind the times and has not passed a gay marriage bill), full faith and credit of a valid gay marriage is the law of the state.  Therefore, gays and lesbians who cannot marry in New York can nevertheless have a legal divorce.  It’s time for New York to correct this sad irony!

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