Long a holdout in signing on to back the Respect for Marriage Act, Sen. Amy Klobuchar indicated this week she’ll sponsor the bill, which would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Klobuchar is the last Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to back the measure after Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin expressed his support in April.
The White House announced Tuesday that President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind legislation which would effectively kill the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Minnesota Democrats introduced a bill on Monday that would repeal the state’s Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits same-sex couples from benefiting from the rights and responsibilities of marriage. The bill, the Marriage and Family Protection Act, was offered just as heated debate at the Capitol continues over a proposed constitutional amendment that would write a ban on gay marriage into the state constitution.
Same-sex couples who are suing the state of Minnesota for the right to marry are urging Gov. Mark Dayton, Attorney General Lori Swanson and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to follow the Obama administration’s lead. Late last month, President Barack…
Minnesota’s two potential presidential candidates have weighed in on President Barack Obama’s decision to halt his administration’s defense of the federal ban on same-sex marriage. Obama’s office says part of the law may be unconstitutional, but Tim Pawenty said he was “disappointed” by the news and Rep. Michele Bachmann took the opportunity to raise money.
A judge has rejected an attempt by the Minnesota Family Council to intervene in a lawsuit challenging state law that bans same-sex marriage. Three same-sex couples filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota earlier this year arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act signed into law in 1997 violates the state Constitution. The Family Council argued that it should be part of the lawsuit, in part, because if DOMA is ruled unconstitutional, it will cost them millions to fight same-sex marriage. The court said the group has no standing to defend DOMA.
“President Obama has two choices: lose the gays, or lose the House. At least that’s how many leaders in the gay community see it,” said Michael Rogers, a Washington-based activist famous for outing closeted gay lawmakers who block the advancement of gay rights.
…
Rev up the culture war machine: A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled Thursday that the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that bans recognition of same-sex marriages, violated a state’s right to define just what legal marriage means.
Vice President Joe Biden has been booked for Al Franken’s swearing-in as a U.S. Senator, and Franken says he will be accompanied at the ceremony by former Vice President Walter Mondale and Sen. Amy Klobuchar. It “looks like” it will…
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
