Obama Wants to Repeal Defense of Marriage Act
'I know the president has spoken now very forcefully against the Defense of Marriage Act as being highly discriminatory'.
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WASHINGTON (CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and abolish the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy concerning homosexuals in the military, according to Elaine Kaplan, general counsel of the White House Office of Personnel Management.
Kaplan, an open lesbian, spoke with CNSNews.com at the Library of Congress on Tuesday, where she was the keynote speaker at a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month event to celebrate the social contributions of LGBT Americans.
“Well, I’m not sure if there’s any legislative proposals right now pending in Congress, but I know the president has spoken now very forcefully against the Defense of Marriage Act as being highly discriminatory,” said Kaplan. “So that’s pretty much where things stand. He has also committed to doing everything he can to get the Defense of Marriage Act repealed.”
The DOMA, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, says that no state is obligated to recognize a same-sex marriage, even if it occurred legally in another state and that the federal government defines marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman.
”I work for the president so I would like to see done whatever he would like to see done,” Kaplan told CNSNews.com. “And what he would like to see done is that the Defense of Marriage Act be repealed, the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – after building some support to get that accomplished – and the extension of benefits to federal employees and their domestic partners.”
When asked to identify the leading transgender and bisexual contributors to American society, Kaplan declined to name anyone in particular, although she was the key speaker at an event to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
“Well, there’s people all over the country of diverse backgrounds, different sexual orientations,” she said. “Some people are transgender, most people are not. And people make contributions irrespective of these kinds of superficial and meaningless distinctions. I’m not going to call out people for you.
“But I can tell you that, you know, we know for a fact, from our common experience, that people come in all shapes, all colors, sexual orientations, sometimes different gender identities, and they all make contributions to our society,” she said. “That’s what this country is all about.”
Kaplan also said she has no position on same-sex marriage.
“To tell you the truth, you are straying beyond my role as general counsel at OPM [Office of Personnel Management]. I’m more comfortable dealing with federal legislation issues and that sort of thing, but I don’t really think that I have an opinion necessarily on same-sex marriage,” she said.
Through an official statement issued by the White House, Obama declared that June 2009 would be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month in the United States.
The statement reads: “NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.”
Kaplan, an open lesbian, spoke with CNSNews.com at the Library of Congress on Tuesday, where she was the keynote speaker at a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month event to celebrate the social contributions of LGBT Americans.
“Well, I’m not sure if there’s any legislative proposals right now pending in Congress, but I know the president has spoken now very forcefully against the Defense of Marriage Act as being highly discriminatory,” said Kaplan. “So that’s pretty much where things stand. He has also committed to doing everything he can to get the Defense of Marriage Act repealed.”
The DOMA, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, says that no state is obligated to recognize a same-sex marriage, even if it occurred legally in another state and that the federal government defines marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman.
”I work for the president so I would like to see done whatever he would like to see done,” Kaplan told CNSNews.com. “And what he would like to see done is that the Defense of Marriage Act be repealed, the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – after building some support to get that accomplished – and the extension of benefits to federal employees and their domestic partners.”
When asked to identify the leading transgender and bisexual contributors to American society, Kaplan declined to name anyone in particular, although she was the key speaker at an event to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
“Well, there’s people all over the country of diverse backgrounds, different sexual orientations,” she said. “Some people are transgender, most people are not. And people make contributions irrespective of these kinds of superficial and meaningless distinctions. I’m not going to call out people for you.
“But I can tell you that, you know, we know for a fact, from our common experience, that people come in all shapes, all colors, sexual orientations, sometimes different gender identities, and they all make contributions to our society,” she said. “That’s what this country is all about.”
Kaplan also said she has no position on same-sex marriage.
“To tell you the truth, you are straying beyond my role as general counsel at OPM [Office of Personnel Management]. I’m more comfortable dealing with federal legislation issues and that sort of thing, but I don’t really think that I have an opinion necessarily on same-sex marriage,” she said.
Through an official statement issued by the White House, Obama declared that June 2009 would be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month in the United States.
The statement reads: “NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.”
- - -
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Or if you dont like moral code, a discipline code if you will, regarding one's private sexual life.
So I stand corrected by everyone if Ive got this wrong.
Im just making a comment nothing controversial.
"The Dont Ask Dont Tell" it seems to me regarding everyone's sexual orientation and lifestyle should not be made public by either hetrosexuals or homosexuals. No one needs to know we need to know if you can do the job in the Armed Services.
People are there to perform a duty in the United Armed Services.
What you are in you private life is no one's business and I think that for this reason that it applies to those who have same sex attraction and those who have hetrosexual attraction.
Therefor it shouldnt be a problem all around if people who serve and are on duty keep there personal life to themselves.
Maybe Im wrong here so forgive me a head of time.
There should be a moral code somewhat in the services.
Welcome to the new "Sodom and Gomorrah" United States. Leave the country while you can, are we in for a conversion.
Christian's were caught sleeping and this is what is happening. Just as Jesus saw the Apostles sleeping, "pray so you are not tested"
We must be guided by the Holy
Spirit in whatever we decide to do.
"Debra- yeah, right, because as everyone knows, there's never been any homosexuals in the navy. "
Homosexuals have never openly served in the navy. Of course, you knew that DS, which makes your comment all the more disingenuous.
Jean, true. Not all the gay rights movement wants that. But I guess that would be a problem.
Bulbajer:
Teresa is suggesting nothing of the kind what she is suggesting is if they appeal the traditional thinking of marriage then they have to let anyone or anything get married and possibly as many partners as they want if its fought for in the courts.
It opens up a whole different ballpark.
By the way Bulbajer if you get the chance and use an IPod, I dont know how to use one but this past Wed. July 8, EWTN Live with Fr. Mitch Pacwa had a very enlightening show on same sex attraction.
It was very compassionate and fascinating.
I agree wholeheartedly with what they said.
I thank them too for the education.
I also see that the Genome Project did not find a definitive Gene which says there is a "Gay" Gene which opens up a whole kettle of fish for all of us to digest.
Hope we find some solutions and answers in these trying times.
Love in Christ brothers and sisters.
Teresa, are you suggesting that gays want equal rights in order to have more wives? Clearly, you don't know very many LGBT.
was so very happy when Obama came into power and truly believed again in human race could see HOPE written everyway i looked. Now with this DOMA am taken aback is he for really or what. I love the way he publicily flirts with his wife and for once thought there goes one man who is going to change the world and show other man that its alright your wife is all u need. When people read the Bible what do they think of Sodom and Gormorrah. Wish MJ was still there to remind us all to 'HEAL THE WORLD' for our kid's sake if not for us. VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!!
Debra- yeah, right, because as everyone knows, there's never been any homosexuals in the navy.