NYCLA Praises U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in United States v. Windsor
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Windsor struck down a central provision of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional.
NYCLA President Barbara Moses stated, "Today's ruling represents an important step on the road toward full marriage equality for all Americans. The Court properly concluded that there is nothing rational about a federal law that discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation by refusing to recognize the lawful marriages of LGBT couples in New York and elsewhere."
NYCLA has formally supported full civil marriage rights for LGBT couples and their families since 2003. In 2012, NYCLA submitted an amicus brief to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Ms. Windsor, arguing that DOMA should be invalidated under the Equal Protection Clause. Ms. Windsor's lead counsel, Roberta Kaplan of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, became a member of the NYCLA Board of Directors in 2013.
NYCLA congratulates Ms. Windsor and her legal team, including Robbie Kaplan. Thanks to Robbie's clear vision and vigorous advocacy, today's decision is not just a victory for LGBT couples; it is a victory for the democratic process. We can now be confident that as more and more states pass marriage equality bills, the federal government will honor those laws and treat all married couples with the same dignity and respect.