A federal judge in Hartford ruled on Tuesday that a portion of the U.S. government’s 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it denies certain benefits to same-sex couples.
According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant issued a lengthy decision saying the federal law violates the Fifth Amendment right to equal protection, because of a provision that “obligates the federal government to single out a category of marriage as excluded from federal recognition, thereby resulting in an inconsistent distribution of federal marital benefits."
The case, which was carried out in the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals, involved six married gay couples, and a widower, who were denied federal benefits such as recogition under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Social Security death benefits, the federal tax code and others.
As the AP reported, the couples had worked for the government, and at least one of the plaintiffs was a Navy veteran.
The ruling comes just a few months after a panel of judges in the 1st U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston issued a similar ruling, according to Fox News.
What do you think? Should gay people be afforded the same federal rights in marriage as straight people with regard to benefits? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.
Long ago people of same sex getting married would never be thought of. What we learned was something wrong is now encouraged to be very right. I don't know what is right or wrong anymore. But after thirty years of marriage to my husband, I can't help to feel to feel sad that the core of what a marriage and a family makeup, (a mother, father and children) is being lost.
You might as well have said "some of my best friends are gay" which no doubt would be untrue. Anyway, as someone who is a product of 12 years of Parochial education (does not make me holier than thou)and someone who believes in God, I take issue with your reasoning. I don't know about YOUR God, but my God taught me that all people are the same in his eyes. My God taught me that he loves ALL of his creatures and that we should too. So now, with this in mind, explain to me why two people of the same sex cannot fall in love and live together in holy matrimony for the rest of their lives. I know you will come back to me with copious excerpts from the Bible or biblical teachings from the Book Of Olive. But the bottom line will be that you have no explanation other than the fact that bigotry guides your feelings on this. That said, can you honestly give me non-religious reasons why this should not be? Again no. Does it REALLY affect you personally if 2 gay people marry and have equal rights? Again, no. How sad that your interpretation of God's teachings do not include all his children while my interpretation does. I'll stick with my version.
But for a second, please, lets focus on the specifics: 1.) Marriage, as defined by Merrian-Webster Dictionary, as; 1. a : being in the state of matrimony : wedded b : of or relating to marriage : connubial 2 united, joined Whether or not you feel differently about the word, the common understanding of marriage holds no religious specifics to it. 2.) The Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution reads, “"Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right…) On October 1st, 2008, Gov. Jodi Rell signed into law Same-Sex Marriage, granting all parties, “… the same rights and responsibilities under state law as marriage…” Therefore my friends, based on the facts alone, “A federal judge in Connecticut has ruled that a portion of the government’s Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it denies gay couples access to certain federal benefits,” Is ABSOLUTELY Correct !!! Government shell make no law that overshadows a States Rights to individuals Freedom.
You sound indoctrinated, not taught. Religion does not deal with civil law so your reference to illegal and legal behavior crosses the line. If you want to set yourself up as the moral police, then knock yourself out. However, you have no right to impose your religious convictions on the civil rights of others. God created man with a free will. I use that free will to think for myself. The bigoted teachings that are disguised as religious doctrine are twisted to instill fear in people like you. There are no rules Olive. You are free to think and make choices. You contradict yourself when you state ".. I believe many people have been raised the same as me, to love God and one another as ourself." You say that you were taught to love God and others as you love yourself. Well Olive, you don't! "So I can understand and feel for same sex people." No Olive, you can't!. I was raised by Catholic parents married for over 50 years who were part of what is referred to as the greatest generation. In spite of being raised in a time when gay people were closeted and shunned, my parents taught all of us that all people are God's creatures and deserved our respect. These are the rules I was raised with and I can guarantee Olive that my "rules" are closer to God's intentions than your rules. Just like religion, bigotry is taught. Just like religion, bigotry can be practiced or discarded. You have chosen to practice bigotry and call it religion.
Thought for today: Take time to listen to an older person...you may learn something.
I am probably older than you. I learned something from you though. You are a bigot through and through. Your silly "Whatever" affirms that. By the way, most in this "new generation" would learn nothing from you except to run like hell from someone with distorted and bigoted views like yours. For your information Olive, stating "Whatever" means you have no comeback, no argument and NOTHING whatsoever to teach anyone.
Adj. 1. bigoted - blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion and intolerant toward others; "a bigoted person"; "an outrageously bigoted point of view" Trish did not use this term, I did. I am done with this subject.