By Kandyce Hall |Staff Writer| While CSUSB students relaxed during their spring break, the United States Supreme Court justices were busy listening to opening statements on two prominent cases that could be the next milestone for gay rights. California Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) were introduced before the U.S. Supreme Court March 26 and 27 by former IBM programmer, Edie Windsor, to nationally recognize the validity of same-sex marriage. The Court listened to arguments on the California Prop 8 case, also known as Hollingsworth v. Perry, where two opposing arguments were formed by Theodore B. Olsen and Charles J. Cooper, former lawyers in the Reagan … [Read more...] about Marriage Equality challenges the Supreme Court
Defense of Marriage Act
Same Sex couples benefit from Respect for Marriage Act
by Lena Torres | Staff Writer | A bill that will provide marriage rights to same sex unions has passed through a key Senate committee. The Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) has passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee. The RMA is designed to restore the rights of same sex couples and unlawfully married couples so that they can receive the benefits of marriage under federal law. The RMA repeals the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which has not been challenged in over 15 years. “DOMA was wrong when it passed in 1996 and it is wrong now,” said Sen. Diane Feinstein in a press release. Currently same sex couples are denied over 1,100 federal rights and protections that other married … [Read more...] about Same Sex couples benefit from Respect for Marriage Act
Defense of Marriage Act loses its defense
By Kyla Cook |Staff Writer| A law firm hired by the House Republicans to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) withdrew from that case on April 18 and gay rights groups claimed the withdrawal a victory, reported The New York Times. However, upon withdrawal of the case, Paul D. Clement, partner and assigned lawyer on the case, resigned from King & Spalding and has taken the case over to Bancroft P.L.L.C as a partner and will continue to defend DOMA, reported The New York Times. DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 and defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. DOMA denies same-sex couples of over 1,100 federal … [Read more...] about Defense of Marriage Act loses its defense