[Democratshavenobrains]

Bush threw back that infamous homophobe Bill Clinton who signed the Defense of Marraige Act in 1996. I didn't even know he did this.

[cyncooper]

I honestly think I now remember that he did it literally in the middle of the night.

I'll check later if that's the one I'm remembering.

Either way, good for President Bush to point it out.

[Calpernia]

Defense of Marraige Act
NC General Statutes

Chapter 51.
Marriage.

ARTICLE 1.

General Provisions.
§ 51-1.2. Marriages between persons of the same gender not valid.
Marriages, whether created by common law, contracted, or performed outside of North Carolina, between individuals of the same gender are not valid in North Carolina. (1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 588, s. 1.)

[cyncooper]

Bush threw back that infamous homophobe Bill Clinton who signed the Defense of Marraige Act in 1996. I didn't even know he did this.

Yep, as I remembered, this is the act he signed in the middle of the night. I'd forgotten until President Bush reminded us tonight that Clinton had signed it and then my memory was triggered. I did a quick Google and found this reference, and I'm sure there are plenty more:

The Holy War on Gays

EXCERPT:

Designed as a response to the consideration of gay marriages by Hawaiian courts, DOMA was an effort to prevent the legal authority of such unions from spreading to the continental United States; it also precludes same-sex couples from receiving federal spousal benefits. The bill sailed through Congress, spearheaded by Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga., ironically twice divorced, thrice married himself. And, with apparent reluctance, President Bill Clinton went along. “The president signed it in the middle of the night, in the wee hours”, says Knight. “And only after [then-White house spokesman Mike] McCurry called it a hate-driven bill.” Since 1996, twenty-eight states have passed parallel legislation, ensuring that they would not have to recognize gay marriages approved by any other state.

~SNIP~