TODAY: Senate Begins DOMA Debate

Today the Senate Judiciary Committee begins debate on the Respect For Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA. First to comment this morning is Freedom To Marry:

“Today is another step toward restoration of the traditional practice of having the federal government respect marriages lawfully celebrated by the states – and eliminating the gay exception that unfairly denies that equal treatment to loving and committed couples who have gotten legally married,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry. “As the Senate Judiciary Committee considers this bill, we urge members to take into account the real harms families face because of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and the burdens this departure from the usual way the federal government honors marriages imposes on businesses, employers, and others dealing with married couples.”

As I've noted here several times, a repeal of DOMA in the Senate would only be a moral victory as the bill has zero chance of advancing in the GOP-dominated House. Nevertheless, we shall closely track the Senate debate.