February 22, 2013
Obama Asks Supreme Court to Void DOMA
Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is asking the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a section of federal law that only recognizes male-female marriages.
In a filing with the court, the administration says Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act denies legally married same-sex couples many federal benefits that are available only to legally married heterosexual couples. Federal tax and Social Security survivor's benefits are among them.
In its brief, the administration said the provision "violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection."
The brief was filed as the justices prepare to hear arguments next month in a challenge to the 1996 law.
President Barack Obama last year said he personally supports gay marriage. He said in last month's inaugural address that the law should treat gay people like anyone else.
Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
