DOMA: The Indefensible Defense Of Marriage Act

Signed into law in 1996, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purpose of restricting federal marriage benefits to heterosexual marriages only. But what exactly does DOMA defend? I mean, the very name of this act implies a profound protection of the institution of marriage, so it must make great strides to defend the institution.

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Justice Scalia Got Served By Ted Olson During “Prop 8” Arguments

During today’s oral arguments on California’s gay marriage ban (Prop 8), Justice Scalia asked Ted Olson, the lawyer challenging Prop 8, “When did it become unconstitutional to exclude homosexual couples from marriage? 1791 [Bill of Rights ratification]? 1868, when the 14th Amendment was adopted?” Olsen answered Scalia’s question with his own question responding with, “When did it become unconstitutional to prohibit interracial marriages?”

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The Legal Argument For Marriage Equality

Marriage, as recognized by the state, requires a license and is a legal contract between two people. It should be of no consequence if this legal contract is between a man and a woman or two men, or two women. Because it is administered by the state, that state must abide by the U.S. constitution. Or in other words, a marriage license and the legal contract that goes along with it must not discriminate.

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Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman Says He Now Supports Same-Sex Marriage

Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman - photo by Jim Gillooly/PEIOhio Republican Senator Rob Portman has reversed his longstanding position against same-sex marriage. Portman said his stance evolved two years ago when his own son came out as gay to he and his wife. “It allowed me to think of this issue from a new perspective,” said Portman ” “[O]f a Dad who loves his son a lot and wants him to have the same opportunities that his brother and sister would have — to have a relationship like Jane and I have had for over 26 years.”

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Some Republicans Come Out In Favor Of Same-Sex Marriage

As if we needed further evidence that the mainstream Republican Party is out-of-touch with the majority of America, a number of prominent Republicans have signed a legal brief in support of same-sex marriage, denouncing the official party platform. The brief will be used in a case heading to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing against California’s Proposition 8, a ballot-initiative that made same-sex marriage illegal in the state.

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Liberal Media Bias? Welcome to Reality. Or Would You Prefer ‘Truthiness’ Instead?

Stephen Colbert - photo by methodshop.comTo say there is a sizable liberal bias in the media is to show how far the conservative movement has dragged this country to the right in the past 30 years. I’m talking politically, not socially. The country is on a progressive liberal march as always when it comes to social issues. The issues conservatives rail against today will be the issues they defend tomorrow. If there is truth to the charge of liberal bias in the media it is because, as Stephen Colbert quipped, “Reality has a well-known liberal bias.” In other words, it is liberals who have led the charge when it comes to advancing human progress on social issues, so it stands to reason the mainstream media would also have a similar slant if the media stands for the truth and what’s right. Alternatively you could go with Colbert’s “truthiness” and only accept “facts” you wish to be true (from the gut) instead of facts that are true.

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