Posted on 09/24/2011 6:07:07 PM PDT by MrZippy2k
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) has signed on as the first Republican co-sponsor of the bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
“I voted against the constitutional amendment defining marriage so I’m pleased to co-sponsor the repeal of DOMA and work with my colleagues on marriage equality,” said Ros-Lehtinen in a statement.
The DOMA-repeal bill, known as the Respect for Marriage Act, now has 125 cosponsors.
Under DOMA, which was signed into law in 1996, states are allowed to not recognize valid same-sex unions performed in other states. Same-sex couples are also denied federal benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples, such as joint filing of taxes, spousal benefits under Social Security and health and pension benefits.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who introduced the Respect for Marriage Act, said Ros-Lehtinen's "support reminds us that the march to repeal the discriminatory DOMA is not a partisan issue. Just as New York showed the nation this summer in its bipartisan embrace of marriage equality, the drive to end DOMA is -- and must be -- a collective, nonpartisan effort that unites Americans behind a simple push for equality. Our coalition grows stronger and larger every day."
R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, also praised Ros-Lehtinen for signing on, noting that she also is a found member of the House LGBT caucus.
"[S]he has been a reliable ally and leader time and again on legislation to secure freedom and fairness for all Americans. Log Cabin Republicans are grateful that she has once again stepped forward as an inclusive leader by co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act," he said in a statement.
Ros-Lehtinen also spoke at the Log Cabin Republicans' Spirit of Lincoln Awards reception in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, where the Advocate noted she was "warmly received."
“As Republicans, we are committed to ensure that the federal government play its proper role. Defining marriage is not part of that role,” read her prepared remarks, which she didn't deliver but released afterward to the press.
Last week, the Respect for Marriage Act picked up four more Democratic cosponsors, including Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), who signed on in response to GOP state lawmakers in North Carolina approving an anti-marriage equality constitutional amendment.
President Obama still does not publicly support marriage equality, although he has given his backing to the Respect for Marriage Act.
Ok—Is she a lesbian?
If they want ‘marriage ‘ so bad, why don’t they make up their own form of a marriage and leave our ancient marriage tradition alone.
Leave us alone! Go slink on your own turf.
to the curb!
Me too. I'm tired of people pushing marriage around like it means nothing.
Never trust someone with two last names.
We will NOT repeal it!
Bump!
Ping.
Good point. Bound to be a liberal.
Her bein a Republican an all, I just assumed her name defined her as a red whatever instead of a blue whatever,
How about a Queer marriage and
Traditional marriage
I have a neighbor lesbo that was married and had 3 kids.
She divorced and now she can do anything a man can do, speaking physically not sexually. Rides a Harley. No sex change. We couldn’t ask for a better person/neighbor. Right now she’s in Faloosja (sp) working for the government.
In other words, it’s not that I care what sexual preference you have but just don’t push your way of life on me and we’ll get along just fine.
Yeah, she’s a real commie /sarc
Anybody on this thread over the age of 12? Geeeeezzzz....
Yeah, Had to see a photo. My thinking was wrong.
NO, SHE JUST HAS A BUNCH OF HOMOSEXUALS IN HER DISTRICT.
I hope she gets replaced by someone who believes in true marriage.
Ros-Lehtinen sides with the Democrats on many issues of gay rights. Her district includes large LGBT populations in South Beach in Miami Beach and in the Florida Keys. She is currently one of two Republican members of the LGBT Equality Caucus, of which she is a founding member and a vice-chairperson.
Funny thing is that her father is opposed to Castro and she's trying to usher in the same crap in America.
Actually, yes. She is.
No emails to this RINO hog unless you’re from her district.
I’ll financially support anyone who runs against this weasel!
“As Republicans, we are committed to ensure that the federal government play its proper role. Defining marriage is not part of that role,” read her prepared remarks, which she didn’t deliver but released afterward to the press.
I would disagree from the standpoint that there are over 1000 provisions in federal law in which marital status is involved. So she’s fundamentally wrong — the federal government has to have a definition of marriage to determine status for these various provisions under the law.
And if this law repealing DOMA passes, then what? Then the federal government has no definition of marriage? Will each state define marriage on its own? What about future lawsuits to force 50 state same-sex marriage? Will the federal government be compelled to accept any definition of marriage from any state, if there is no definition under federal law?
Just repealing DOMA leaves things very muddled. Which probaby suits the gay activists, as they plan to force this to all 50 states through the courts.
She may be a lez; more likely, though, she has a quear son or something (not trying to start a rumor; but mothers of mohos tend to develop empathy — Stockholm Syndrome dontcha know).
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