President Obama Directs Justice Department to Stop Defending DOMA

In a major stand for gay and lesbian rights, President Obama ordered the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in courts. Language in DOMA for years has prevented same-sex biantional couples from accessing the same immigration rights opposite-sex binational couples have, namely the right of an American citizen to sponsor their partner for immigration purposes.

We're watching this closely, and will bring you updates as we get confirmation on how this will proceed. For now, here is how the story appeared earlier today in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/us/24marriage.html?_r=2&hp

Below is our statement to the press.

Out4Immigration welcomes the Obama Administration's view that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional. Since 1996 DOMA has prohibited the federal government from recognizing gay and lesbian relationships. Nowhere has the discrimination in this law had a more devastating impact than on the lives of same-sex binational couples, who are barred by the language of DOMA from sponsoring a foreign partner for immigration purposes. We have seen hundreds of same-sex binational couples torn apart and forced to make the unfathomable choice between their country or the person they love because DOMA prevents loving and committed same-sex couples from accessing over 1,100 federal rights that protect a relationship. We look forward to the day when DOMA is history, and when same-sex binational couples can have all the same rights that opposite-sex binational couples currently enjoy.