Senator Diane Feinstein will introduce legislation to repeal DOMA

[flpoljunkie]

Defense of Marriage Act decision spurs calls for congressional action; Feinstein to introduce repeal bill

Commentators and politicians from the left and the right say Congress could take the next move now that President Obama's Justice Department has announced it will no longer defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)-- and it looks like a member of Congress from the left side of the aisle is the first to act.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California released a statement today saying that she intends to introduce legislation to repeal DOMA, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

"My own belief is that when two people love each other and enter the contract of marriage, the Federal government should honor that," Feinstein said. "I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It was the wrong law then; it is the wrong law now; and it should be repealed."

Equality Matters President Richard Socarides lauded President Obama for showing "bold leadership" on the issue and said in a statement that the decision "means that the discriminatory and harmful Defense of Marriage Act is on its last legs. The federal government is one big step closer to providing equal rights and responsibilities to millions of loving and legally married same-sex couples."