President Barack Obama made a promise during last month's inaugural address that he won't rest until gay people are treated like anyone else. As the Supreme Court justices prepare to hear arguments next month challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, the Obama administration is weighing in. The Associated Press reports Saturday that the Supreme Court has been asked to declare the section of federal law that only recognizes male-female marriages unconstitutional.
According to the administration Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act currently denies legally married same-sex couples many of the same federal benefits that straight married couples enjoy including Federal tax and Social Security survivor's benefits that are important for married same-sex couples in states where marriage is legal. As it stands, the provision "violates the fundamental constitution guarantee of equal protection" states the administration.
Obama public announcement supporting same sex marriage in July of 2012 has added much momentum to the overall fight. Three states have victorious in historic outcomes in this past November's election and more states are enjoying historic progress when it comes to same-sex marriage and gay equality.
It is apparently that Obama plans to be more aggressive in his second term as president. He said during his inaugural speech:
"Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law - for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote."
It is a journey that will hopefully lead to victorious destination next month as DOMA heads to the Supreme Court.
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