Marriage-only Strategy Sinks DOMA Repeal

Same-sex marriage activists are destroying our chance of repealing DOMA. The President's suggestion for repealing DOMA & granting marital right to all states that had any form of "legally-recognized unions," which would have covered 14 states, was pushed aside. The marriage-only activists insisted on a bill which would only cover same-sex marriage, at present this is only 5 states(Congressman Nadler's bill). This would only cover 4 New England states and Iowa. This bill totally ignores the needs of the LGBT citizens in the West as California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada have domestic partnerships & Hawaii and Colorado have other forms of recognition.

However, much more significant is the fact that the President's "legally-recognized unions" would have had a better chance of passage (still slim) because it appeared more like domestic partnerships even though it would also have covered the 5 states with marriage. In politics, appearances can be more powerful than reality. The Nadler Bill has zero chance of passage because it is all about the "M" word and will not get the support it needs to pass because, sadly, only about 35-40% of American voters support same-sex marriage. Even openly gay Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank has refused to co-sponsor the bill because it is doomed. Members of Congress read the polls and so should we.

Sinking DOMA repeal during the current congressional session is the most tragic example of how marriage-only activists are slowing the progress of marriage equality. The marriage-only activists have probably sunk DOMA repeal for the next 10-20 years because there will probably be more Republicans in the House and Senate after the next election.