Rep. Schiff: Supreme Court Decisions a Huge Day for Cause of Equality
Washington, DC– Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional on equal protection grounds and dismissed a case involving California’s Proposition 8, making marriage equality legal in California again:
“Today is a huge day for the cause of equality – by ruling that DOMA is an unconstitutional violation of equal protection, the Court has struck a momentous blow against discrimination and injustice, bringing us closer to our founding principle that all people are created equal. By dismissing the Prop 8 case, the Court has returned marriage equality to California. It’s my hope that clerks will begin issuing marriage licenses to those loving couples wishing to get married as soon as possible.
“Love is love, and the fight will not be over until equality under the law – including the right to marry the person you love – is the law of the land in every state in the nation.”
Schiff is an original co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require recognition of any marriage performed in any state under federal law, including that of LGBT Americans. He supports full equality for all LGBT Americans to enjoy all the rights and privileges of our nation. Schiff also fought to stop House Republicans from defending DOMA in court – ultimately spending $2.3 million defending an unconstitutional law.
During an Appropriations Committee hearing last year, Schiff argued: “Rather than throwing good money after bad, I believe we should accept what is plainly apparent. That DOMA unconstitutionally discriminates against a particular class of Americans, and should be and will be struck down by the Courts. This Committee and this House can stand in the way of that history, or we can jointly recognize the fundamental right of every American to love, and marry whom they choose.”
Just yesterday, Schiff met with Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo – two of the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case about California’s Prop 8 from Burbank, CA.
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