GLAD files lawsuit against DOMA in federal court
March 3, 2009
HOT TOPIC: HRC lauded the introduction of a lawsuit filed in Boston Federal District Court today on behalf of eight married, Massachusetts same-sex couples and three surviving spouses who have been denied federal benefits under Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The plaintiffs are represented by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). GLAD has launched a comprehensive website on the legal challenge to DOMA. Enacted in 1996, the Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage solely as the union of a man and a woman under federal law (Section 3), thereby denying lesbian and gay couples access to Social Security survivors’ benefits, joint tax filing, and over 1000 other protections. DOMA also purports to allow states to refuse to recognize marriages between same-sex couples that are solemnized in other states (Section 2). GLAD’s case, Gill et al v. Office of Personnel Management et al, challenges only Section 3 of DOMA. Joe Solmonese issued this statement today:
These legally married couples make the same commitments and take on the same responsibilities for themselves and their children as their fellow citizens. The federal government has no business treating them differently and denying them critical protections. We applaud GLAD for taking this first step to ensure that these married couples are treated equally under federal law.
