Cartwright Applauds SCOTUS Ruling Paving the Way towards "Equality for All'

Statement

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright released the following statement today after the Supreme Court ruled on the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8:

"In recent years, both California's Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act became symbols of discrimination around the country and around the world. Today, "equality for all' prevailed.

I applaud both rulings made by the Supreme Court this morning. The Defense of Marriage Act treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it. In striking down Section 3 of DOMA, the Court ensures that married gay and lesbian couples are fully recognized by their government and that they and their children qualify for the host of rights and benefits designed to strengthen and protect American families.

For married couples living in states that do not recognize their marriages, however, there is still uncertainty. The federal government must ensure that these couples receive full range of federal agency and federal policy recognition and respect that they deserve. I urge the administration to provide policy and administrative clarity to these couples and take every possible step to ensure they receive fair treatment. I am committed to working with the president to make that happen."

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