FROM NEWS RELEASES
September 18, 2009
The Department of Justice has today filed a motion to dismiss in Gill v. Office of Personnel Development. Gill is a federal lawsuit challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) , which excludes same-sex couples from all federal benefits and protections given to heterosexual married couples.
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders' Statement:
Mary L. Bonauto, GLAD's Civil Rights Project Director and co-lead counsel in Gill, said "Nothing in the government's brief addresses the fact that DOMA is the sole exception in a long history of the federal government deferring to the states' determination that people are married. Obviously we disagree with any argument that DOMA is constitutional. Married same-sex couples are being treated differently from other married couples. To us, that's a clear-cut violation of the promise of equal protection."
Gary Buseck, GLAD's Legal Director said, "We're seeking justice for the widows and widowers who are denied death benefits, for people who can't get on their spouse's health plan, for parents who can't file taxes jointly and pay thousands extra each year that they could put away for their children's education or family emergencies."
"There is nothing in the brief that we are unprepared to deal with," added Bonauto. "We're pleased that the issues have now been joined and the case is moving toward resolution, because every day, an increasing number of families - not just our plaintiffs - are being harmed by DOMA. We're confident in the justice of our cause and the strength of our case."
GLAD filed its challenge to DOMA Section 3 in U.S. District Court on March 3, 2009, and filed an amended complaint in July on behalf of 8 Massachusetts married couples and 3 widowers who have been harmed by the law. In July, GLAD scored its first victory in the case when the State Department changed its passport name change policy and plaintiff Keith Toney was for the first time able to get a passport in his correct, married name.
Gill has been described as "a carefully planned case quietly underway in Massachusetts federal court [ that ] could be the gay marriage test with the greatest national impact" by the National Law Journal. More information on the case is available at www.glad.org/doma. The DOJ brief can be read at tinyurl.com/gill-doj-mtd .
A statement from National Center for Lesbian Rights:
Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq., said "We are disappointed that the Justice Department continues to advance what we believe are insupportable arguments in defense of DOMA, even while their brief acknowledges the President's view that DOMA blatantly discriminates against same-sex couples and should be repealed. The Department missed an opportunity to acknowledge that discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people is wrong. DOMA is an unprecedented departure from the federal government's practice of respecting couples who are legally married under state law. Never before has the federal government refused to provide benefits to legally married couples, and there is no reason for doing so now. We call on the President to exercise his leadership to urge Congress to move as quickly as possible on the DOMA repeal legislation introduced this week in Congress."