Democrats Seek Gay Rights Protections After Court Ruling

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-26/democrats-seek-gay-rights-protections-after-court-ruling.html


Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, center, embrace after the Supreme Court struck down a federal provision denying benefits to legally married gay couples in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2013.

Democratic lawmakers said they’ll seek further protections for gay couples after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of a federal law denying them benefits, as congressional Republicans signaled that further battles on marriage equality would shift to the states.

Democrats in both chambers said they will introduce a measure today that would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, after the high court said a core provision violated the Constitution’s equal protection provision. The court also cleared the way for same-sex weddings to resume in California.

While Democrats heralded the ruling as a victory for the gay-rights movement, Republicans said the 5-4 Supreme Court decision gutted a law that passed both chambers with overwhelming majorities and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

“Now we have an effective oligarchy of five who decide the fundamental issues of our time,” said Representative Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota Republican.

[MNBrewer]

1. M. Bachmann didn't seem to care when it illegitimately installed George Bush.