Late Thursday, U.S. Department of Justice lawyers filed a motion to
dismiss a case that challenged the 1996 Federal Defense of Marriage Act
often referred to as DOMA. DOMA currently prevents couples in states
that recognize same-sex unions from securing Social Security spousal
benefits, filing joint taxes, and other federal rights of marriage.
Justice Department lawyers concluded that allowing federal marriage
benefits to gays would infringe on the rights of taxpayers in the 30
states that specifically prohibit same-sex marriages.
Naturally, gay activists were upset, apparently angered that they could
not just bend the Department of Justice to their will. Perhaps I
should not be surprised by their ire. Their greatest allies have been
out-of-control courts and runaway legislatures.
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Yet I was very surprised at how disrespectful they seemed to the White
House. It appears that these groups feel the administration owes them
a special dimension of
allegiance. Despite the president’s promise of
greater gay inclusion in the political mainstream and his declaration
that June should be considered gay pride month, gay activists like the
Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights lobbying group based in Washington
and Lambda Legal, called on Obama to begin steps to end DOMA as he
promised on the campaign trail.
President Obama would be very unwise if he caved into the pressure
tactics of gay activists at this early stage of his presidency. After
all, many Christian leaders have been disturbed by the president’s
stand on abortion, his lifting the bans on embryonic stem cell
research, and his liberal economic policies.
Even though the president made very explicit and emphatic campaign
promises that he opposes DOMA and would call for Congress to repeal it,
the president is too smart to knuckle under to the cries of a vocal
minority that cannot shift the balance of power in his favor in either
2010 or 2012. For these reasons and others, Justice spokeswoman Tracy
Schmaler made the inevitable statement, “Until Congress passes
legislation repealing the law, the administration will continue to
defend the statute when it is challenged in the justice system.”
While all of this is happening on a national level, grassroots
pro-marriage activists need to seize the moment by reversing some of
the victories that gay marriage advocates have achieved. We need to
ta
ke advantage of President Obama’s lack of support for gay marriage
and slow down the momentum of the gay movement. The best way to do
this is to give the voters a chance to let their voices be heard. After
all, in the 30 cases in which the people were able to choose; they
chose marriage between one man and one woman.
Two battles in which we are most poised for victory in the near future
are Maine and Washington, DC. First of all, the state of Maine is ripe
for a reversal of its recently minted same-sex marriage laws. Secondly,
the DC City Council’s decision to pursue gay marriage can be derailed
by an irate electorate that feels disenfranchised.
The efforts toward a DC DOMA are headed by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and
Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) and 28 co-sponsors, demonstrating the
bi-partisan agreement toward defending traditional marriage. DOMA is a
legitimate exercise of Congressional power under the Full Faith and
Credit Clause and does not violate either the Equal Protection Clause
or the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution. We must
use legal measures to continue the battle to protect our families and
our way of life now. We must encourage “Blue Dog” Democrats to work
with Republicans and see this Act become law.
There have been previous introductions of a DC DOMA in Congress and gay
activists are assuring themselves that this proposal will fall flat as=2
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others have in the past. In fact, Mitch Wood, President of Gay and
Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. has said, “We already
have assurances from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that she opposes any
congressional action to overturn the marriage-recognition legislation,
now in its congressional review period and expected to become law on
July 6.
“We are working in coalition with several local and national groups
committed to GLBT equality, in addition to our good friend and
champion, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), to ensure that
both the currently-pending bill and the full marriage equality bill
expected later this year will withstand any attempts to overturn them
at the local or congressional level. We will keep you apprised of
developments.”
Gay radicals were not expecting pro-marriage America to resist their
strategies so vehemently. Our endeavors in Washington have been
successful thus far because we have brought blacks, whites, Hispanics,
and Asians together based on their common belief in biblical marriage.
Such camaraderie makes the overwhelming possibility for all communities
across America to rise up together. Our goal is not to just register a
political opinion; we must protect marriage for the next generation.
We must guard our children’s religious liberties which will likely be
abridged under massive gay legislation.
While our organizations work to speak with every congressm
an on Capitol
Hill, it will take the grassroots of community mobilization to achieve
our goals. You are most important in this effort. Let your
representatives know that you stand for biblical marriage and you want
them to vote YES to DC DOMA. If you need to know how to contact your
representatives, log onto www.thetruthinblackandwhite.com Become
a voice…make a difference…defend marriage! |