NCJW and RAC back effort to repeal DOMA (UPDATED)

The National Council of Jewish Women and the Religious Center of Reform Judaism are welcoming Tuesday’s introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

"Under DOMA, same-sex married couples are denied the advantage of more than 1100 federal protections and responsibilities ordinarily extended to married couples," said NCJW president Nancy Ratzan. "As a practical matter, DOMA deprives same sex couples of the ability to file joint income tax returns, to enjoy spousal benefits under social security, and to use the Family and Medical Leave Act, just to name a very few. The decision of eight states and the District of Columbia to recognize same-sex marriage makes this effort all the more urgent."

"All individuals are created b’tselem elohim, in the image of the Divine, and as such, are entitled to respect and equality," said RAC associate director Mark Pelavin. "The Respect for Marriage Act is a positive and welcome step toward full equality for the LGBT community."

The full statements are after the jump:[[READMORE]]

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today welcomed the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. NCJW President Nancy Ratzan released the following statement:

“NCJW is proud to stand with congressional leaders as they introduce the Respect for Marriage Act, which would end discriminatory treatment of legally married same-sex couples by the federal government. Such treatment became part of federal law with the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed in 1996. DOMA overturned federal recognition of all state-sanctioned marriages that had been legally binding since ratification of the US Constitution more than 200 years ago.

“Under DOMA, same-sex married couples are denied the advantage of more than 1100 federal protections and responsibilities ordinarily extended to married couples. As a practical matter, DOMA deprives same sex couples of the ability to file joint income tax returns, to enjoy spousal benefits under social security, and to use the Family and Medical Leave Act, just to name a very few. The decision of eight states and the District of Columbia to recognize same-sex marriage makes this effort all the more urgent.

“Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Jared Polis (D-CO) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are to be commended for sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act, and NCJW is pleased to join in supporting this effort to reverse a discriminatory law that has inflicted severe hardships on many American couples.”

And the RAC:

In response to yesterday’s introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act of 2009, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act in its entirety, Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:

Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s introduction yesterday of the Respect for Marriage Act is a beacon of hope and equality following  13 years of civil rights denials under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law that denies married same-sex couples from receiving the more than 1,100 federal protections granted to heterosexual married couples, including the ability to file joint taxes, receive spousal health care benefits, receive spousal benefits under Social Security, and many more experiences of life taken for granted by married, heterosexual Americans. 

In the 13 years since DOMA’s passage, a growing number of states have legalized recognition of same-sex marriages. The Respect for Marriage Act, introduced with the support of 91 cosponsors, would repeal DOMA in its entirety, allowing legally married same-sex couples to receive the same federal benefits and protections as heterosexual married couples.

All individuals are created b’tselem elohim, in the image of the Divine, and as such, are entitled to respect and equality. The Respect for Marriage Act is a positive and welcome step toward full equality for the LGBT community.