Marriage is about more than a union between two people: It's the start of a family. In the same way our marriage laws help protect children and ensure their basic rights, the denial of marriage to LGBT couples harms their kids.
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) not only restricts marriage for LGBT couples, but also unfairly denies children basic rights and safety nets -- simply because their parents are gay.
Decades of research shows that the children of gay and lesbian parents grow up to be just as happy, healthy, and well-adjusted as their peers -- despite a system that makes it harder for children of LGBT parents to get health insurance and impossible for their parents to take advantage of cost-easing tax breaks designed to help families.
DOMA is negatively impacting families raising 2 million children in the United States. It's time to put that law to rest. Tell Congress to repeal DOMA and pass the Respect for Marriage Act.
Dear [Decision Maker],
I am writing you today to support the Respect for Marriage Act, which repeals the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA singles out lawfully married same-sex couples under federal law, denying them the more than 1,000 federal protections and responsibilities that apply to other married couples.
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DOMA is negatively impacting one million families raising two million children in the U.S.
Supporters of DOMA have argued that it is necessary to promote family structures that are best for children. However, well-respected child welfare organizations, including the Child Welfare League of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association, have all stated that gay parents raise just as healthy and productive children as straight parents.
Just last week, a federal court in Massachusetts, ruling that DOMA was unconstitutional, said denying same-sex parents the federal benefits of marriage "prevents children of same-sex couples from enjoying the immeasurable advantages that flow from the assurance of a stable family structure." We want to give our kids the "immeasurable advantages" that flow from marriage. This requires the repeal of DOMA, so that all those who are married are treated equally by our federal government.
I urge you to repeal the law and to support the Respect for Marriage Act.
Thank you.
