September 9, 2009
President Barack Obama
Senator Jay D. Rockefeller III
Senator Robert Byrd
Congressman Nick J. Rahall II
Dear Representatives of our Great Republic:
I'm writing to urge you to push forward legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a hurtful and discriminatory law that is denying tens of thousands of legally married lesbian and gay couples across the country more than 1,000 federal protections they deserve. An important first step in this effort is to support Representative Nadler's legislation to repeal DOMA.
The federal protections of marriage include Social Security survivors' benefits, family and medical leave, equal compensation as federal employees, and immigration rights, among others.
DOMA and other anti-gay discriminatory federal laws, force the USCIS to deny any kind of visa to my same-gender foreign partner if we tell the truth about our relationship, could punish us if we lie about it, and forces us, because we're gay, to bear living in two separate countries. A couple years ago Chris Bentley, spokesman for Department of Homeland Security Citizen and Immigration Services, said:
"There are no immigration benefits available to [gays] based on their relationship. With that said, there's certainly nothing that says a U.S. citizen cannot move to another country." (See "Exiled by Love: Immigration Law Snubs Gay Partners")
This is a TOTAL OUTRAGE to me, to my parents and to all Americans of good conscience. We are sick and tired of our Constitution being trampled by hate cults and hypocrites who have no clue what Equality and Freedom mean!
All across this country, same-sex couples are living the same lives that heterosexual couples live -- raising children and trying to save for their educations; committing to each other emotionally and financially, paying taxes, serving on the PTA, and struggling to balance work and family.
It's time to do away with DOMA once and for all and I look to you to lead the fight on this important issue.
I'm writing to urge you to push forward legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a hurtful and discriminatory law that is denying tens of thousands of legally married lesbian and gay couples across the country more than 1,000 federal protections they deserve. An important first step in this effort is to support Representative Nadler's legislation to repeal DOMA.
The federal protections of marriage include Social Security survivors' benefits, family and medical leave, equal compensation as federal employees, and immigration rights, among others.
DOMA and other anti-gay discriminatory federal laws, force the USCIS to deny any kind of visa to my same-gender foreign partner if we tell the truth about our relationship, could punish us if we lie about it, and forces us, because we're gay, to bear living in two separate countries. A couple years ago Chris Bentley, spokesman for Department of Homeland Security Citizen and Immigration Services, said:
"There are no immigration benefits available to [gays] based on their relationship. With that said, there's certainly nothing that says a U.S. citizen cannot move to another country." (See "Exiled by Love: Immigration Law Snubs Gay Partners")
This is a TOTAL OUTRAGE to me, to my parents and to all Americans of good conscience. We are sick and tired of our Constitution being trampled by hate cults and hypocrites who have no clue what Equality and Freedom mean!
All across this country, same-sex couples are living the same lives that heterosexual couples live -- raising children and trying to save for their educations; committing to each other emotionally and financially, paying taxes, serving on the PTA, and struggling to balance work and family.
It's time to do away with DOMA once and for all and I look to you to lead the fight on this important issue.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Madison Reed
My blog: http://blog.lotusopening.com
Join with me. Go to "Repeal DOMA Now!" and send your letter to your Representatives.
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