DOJ will meet with gay rights groups about DOMA

by desmoinesdem, Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 10:18:19 PM EST

Greg Sargent reported today at The Plum Line,

Two prominent gay rights lawyers litigating high-profile cases against the Obama administration tell me that their requests to meet with administration lawyers to discuss the cases were rebuffed [...].

In both cases, the lawyers are representing Federal employees whose spouses are being denied protections or benefits under the Defense of Marriage Act.

Less than two hours after that post, Sargent received encouraging news from the DOJ and posted an update:

The Obama Justice Department has reached out to major gay rights organizations and scheduled a private meeting for next week with the groups, in an apparent effort to smooth over tensions in the wake of the controversy over the administration's defense in court of the Defense of Marriage Act. [...]

At the meeting -- which hasn't been announced and is expected to include leading gay rights groups like GLAD and Lambda Legal -- both sides are expected to hash out how to proceed with pending DOMA cases.

Though there's no guarantee either side will leave next week's meeting happy, it's encouraging to hear that some dialogue is planned.




Tags: LGBT, GLBT, Barack Obama, Department of Justice, Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, gay rights (all tags)

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Recognizing a problem. (none / 0)

At least they are begining to realize that there is a problem, which  has been at issue for the last couple of months.


by bruh3 on Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 10:36:16 PM EST

Truly A First Step (2.00 / 1)

Hey even if it doesn't work out favorable I am still happy to hear that the DOJ is willing to talk to the Gay Community. This type of outreach would never have happened under a Bush Administration.


by political22 on Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 11:32:18 PM EST

Re: Truly A First Step (none / 0)

I agree with you. But, I look forward to the day when we do not use the extremely low bar of the Bush Administration by which to judge the behavior of our government.


by bruh3 on Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 11:58:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Truly A First Step (none / 0)

How about the Clinton administration?  Or any other administration for that matter?


Howard Dean is my go-to guy
by lojasmo on Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 08:30:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

don't ask don't tell (none / 0)

Obama does NOT need Congress on this issue.  As Commander-in-Chief, he has the authority to overturn this, or at least order non-enforcement of it.  He's had five months now.  Surely any issues should be resolved by this time.

I'm waiting for that one.


by esconded on Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 12:05:22 AM EST

You could not be more wrong.... (none / 0)

If Obama overturns this, we can expect Congress to go nuts, the Defense Department to rebel, and the Right Wing to drown us in "Over-reaching Executive Power..."

CONGRESS must repeal DADT.

The Military is dominated by Evangelical Christians in the Chaplin Corps, Bush and his minions have made it very different then when Harry Truman overturned racial segration all those years ago.

They would all just claim that Obama is anti-military, etc, and rebel.

Only when CONGRESS makes it the law of the land, will there voices be put to rest.

If Obama overturns it by EU, all that it will take is a Republican President to change it back and then how many gay soldiers, out and open, can be thrown out.

NO, as long as DADT is the law of the land, this outrage stands.

Congress MUST repeal this abomination, this legalization of discrimination, to undo this.


Support the separation of Church and State: Vote YES on WA R-71!
by WashStateBlue on Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 12:09:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Excuse me? (none / 0)

Though there's no guarantee either side will leave next week's meeting happy

Why on earth should progressives be concerned about whether Obama is "happy".

After all, he and his family enjoy a plethora of equal rights and all the benefits that go with them.

Us gays, not so much.


by BigBoyBlue on Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 11:48:19 AM EST

WHO SAID OBAMA? (2.00 / 1)

Did that statement read

"That meeting will make Obama unhappy..."

And, yes, how lucky he is to be a black man in the USA....He doesn't have to put up with any discrimination or anything.

BlueBoy, what have you done today to inform CONGRESS of your objections to DOMA and DADT?

I have written BOTH my Senators, stating I will be contacting them throughout this year, asking how they are going to support and push for a repeal of DADT and DOMA.

(I write them all the time, as my congress man is Jim McDermott, so I kind of know where he sits on these issues.)

I expect Maria Cantwell to ignore these request, but I do think Patty Murray, who is very involved with Military issues, to be supportive when DADT is finally dealt with.

Focus your energy on those WHO HAVE NOT come out in favor of overturning DOMA and DADT.

Obama is on the record for that.

Are your Congress Critters on the record for the repeal of DOMA and DADT?

if not, what are you doing about it?


Support the separation of Church and State: Vote YES on WA R-71!
by WashStateBlue on Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 12:20:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

you're barking up the wrong tree (2.00 / 1)

I strongly support marriage equality and don't give the Obama administration a pass on this or many other issues.


Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.
by desmoinesdem on Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 12:48:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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