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In a speech to a gay rights lobbying group in New York last Saturday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced widespread changes within the U.S. Justice Department that will benefit same-sex married couples. The changes include recognizing a legal right for gay spouses not to testify against each other in civil and criminal cases, debt handling in federal bankruptcy proceedings and visitation policies at federal prisons.
U.S. law has long included a “spousal privilege” that protects communications between a husband and wife so that they cannot be forced to incriminate one another in court, but now that right will be extended to same-sex couples as well.
“In every courthouse, in every proceeding, and in every place where a member of the Department of Justice stands on behalf of the United States, they will strive to ensure that same-sex marriages receive the same privileges, protections, and rights as opposite-sex marriages under federal law,” Holder said in his speech. On Monday, he issued a departmental memo to “formally instruct all department employees to give lawful same-sex marriages full and equal recognition, to the greatest extent possible under the law.”
Holder’s words and actions were applauded by gay rights proponents. “This landmark announcement will change the lives of countless committed gay and lesbian couples for the better,” Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement. “While the immediate effect of these policy decisions is that all married gay couples will be treated equally under the law, the long-term effects are more profound. Today, our nation moves closer toward its ideals of equality and fairness for all,” Griffin added.
As expected, opponents of gay marriage condemned Holder’s speech.
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“The news that the Justice Department will extend sweeping recognition to ‘marriages’ of same-sex couples, even in states that do not recognize such unions, is yet another illustration of the lawlessness of this administration,” Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said in a statement.
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| Tony Perkins |
“The Obama administration’s haste to nevertheless recognize such unions in every state actually runs counter to the Windsor decision’s emphasis on the federal government’s obligation to defer to state definitions of marriage,” Perkins added, referring to the Supreme Court ruling in the United States v. Windsor case.
Comparing the gay-rights movement to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Holder made clear that it was important for his department to act. “As attorney general, I will not let this department be simply a bystander during this important moment in history,” he said.
Same-sex marriage is currently allowed in 17 of the 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia. However, Holder’s announcement of the new changes are in line with last year’s Supreme Court ruling which prevents the federal government from refusing to recognize same-sex marriages carried out in states that allow them.
They may recognized but I don't and neither does many others. God doesn't recognize it and he created marriage.
Too bad they don't recognize something more important like the mass murdering of black people who are unarmed?
A child named Trevon Martin tried to go home with a can of ice tea and skittles but was murdered.
How about the black man and woman who were in accidents and knocked on doors for help but were murdered.
How about the child that was sitting in a car with a bunch of friends and who was murdered.
To elderly brothers in their sixties were just murdered when they bought a new house.