Saturday, July 23, 2011

It's Time To Repeal DOMA - Al Franken

[Email from Al Franken]

Dear Friend,

 There’s no good argument against marriage equality. There’s no good argument for the Defense of Marriage Act, one of the most unfair laws passed in my lifetime. And there’s no good argument for leaving it on the books.

 What are we waiting for? The country has evolved -- Americans support the repeal of DOMA. So does President Obama. So does President Clinton, who signed it into law in 1996. So does Bob Barr, the Republican who wrote the darn thing. I say it’s time. It’s time for gay and lesbian Americans to enjoy the same rights as the rest of us. It’s time to toss the bigotry and the fear into the dumpster of embarrassing history where they belong. And you know what? It’s time for progressives like you and me to stop waiting around for someone else to make this country what it ought to be.

It’s time to repeal DOMA. Let’s start right now, you and me. I’ve written a petition to get the ball rolling -- click here to add your name now!




Marrying Franni was the best thing that ever happened to me. And it’s always pained me to know that our country denies that right to millions of gays and lesbians.

 Over the years, those of us who support marriage equality have had to put up with a series of nonsensical arguments from those who support marriage discrimination. And, one by one, their ridiculous objections have been proven wrong.

 Same-sex marriage doesn’t hurt straight couples. It doesn’t hurt kids who grow up in loving same-sex families. It doesn’t hurt anyone. DOMA, on the other hand, is an ugly stain on our country. And every day we don’t repeal it is another day we’re making millions of Americans second-class citizens.
Let’s make today the day -- sign my petition to repeal DOMA and let’s get this done already.

 I think we can do this, and I think we can do it now. But we can only do it if we convince decision-makers in the Obama administration and Congress that we won’t shut up until this gets done.

 So let’s show them how many of us are prepared to fight for this -- right now. Sign my petition and tell Washington it’s time to repeal DOMA.
 This is going to be a tough fight. But it’s a matter of simple fairness. We’re right. And we can win. Are you ready to fight alongside me?

 Thanks,  [Al's Signature]

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Michael: Wow, I'm so proud of Al Franken! This is no doubt not a burning issue in his state and he will probably receive some backlash AND he of course won by a razor thin margin. This is the kind of Senator that we all need! One who actually does things not to be reelected but because they are the right thing to do.

All the political posturing over the U.S. debt limit should help us realize that electing good people should be our goal. People who's only aim is getting relected IS our problem.
The repeal of DOMA is an issue to me for various reasons, not the least of which is that Wanda was the best thing that ever happened to me and the deeper committment of marriage was fundamental to the happier, more productive, and more meaningful life I now lead. Let's make marriage equal.