Dear Conservative Legislature,
I would like to share with you my support of the Respect for Marriage Act which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. In our country, the business of marriage and marriage licenses are left as a responsibility to each state. The DOMA sets a federal guideline which then negates the decisions of majority voters in states that have legalized same-sex marriage. Currently in our nation, 9 states and the District of Columbia authorize same-sex marriages with 15.8% of our country’s population living in these states.
Whether you morally agree with same-sex partnership and marriage yourself is not the issue at hand here. As a member of this democracy, there is an expectation that the vote of the majority is respected and honored. The DOMA essentially ignores the voices in these 9 states and D.C. that have said, “Yes, we will allow and recognize same-sex marriages.” Therefore, these legally married couples are still excluded from over 1,100 federal benefits and protections that are otherwise accessed by heterosexual married couples with the same state license. I understand that we live in a country still divided on whether same-sex marriage should be authorized; however with more and more states issuing marriage licenses for homosexual couples due to the votes of the majority, it is now our duty to respect these couples and respect their marriages.
The RMA bill is expected to be reintroduced in the 113th session of Congress. I ask you to please validate, respect, and honor the votes of these 9 states and the District of Columbia, by supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, thereby repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. I appreciate your time, attention, and consideration on this issue.
Sincerely,
Venée M. Hummel
I personally dream of a day when same-sex marriage is a possibility for all homosexuals in this nation, across all 50 states and DC. I hope for a day when a promise of love, honor, and commitment is recognized by equal access to state marriage licenses. However, when asked to write a letter to a legislature concerning a policy change I endorse, I recognized that I live in a Red State and all of my district representatives at the state level and Congressional representatives are Republicans. I knew I had to take a new angle to broach the idea of same-sex marriage equality to my representatives.
This country is rooted in the belief that the power is held by the people. This country is rooted in the democratic process and the power of a vote. Our representatives across the three branches of government are expected to uphold, support, and defend our Constitution which is the framework for the aforementioned beliefs.
If you do not support same-sex marriage on a basis of philosophical, moral, religious, or even bigoted reasoning, yet you are a member of the legislative body expected to protect and respect the democratic process-- then my letter is to you. Forget your stance on same-sex marriage, let us remember what it means when citizens take to the voting polls. By continued support of the DOMA, each vote, each voice, each step into the voting poll that spoke up in favor of same-sex marriage equality is ignored, invalidated, discredited. The majority spoke in 9 states and the District of Columbia, yet the value of a marriage license to a same-sex couple is marginalized compared to that of a heterosexual couple.
Respect for the Defense of Marriage Act is a back turned on the democratic principles this nation is supposed to uphold. However, support for the Respect for Marriage Act tells voters of these states, "We heard you and we will respect your vote." It tells these couples who are legally married, "We will accept your marriage, because your state accepts and respects your marriage."
I hope one day we can honor the inherent dignity of all peoples, regardless of sexual orientation and identity. Until then, I will ask conservatives to at least honor the dignity of voters.
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