Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) and 211 of his House and Senate colleagues today filed an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Supreme court case United States vs. Edith Windsor. The case challenges the constitutionality of the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA), which prevents legally-married gay couples from receiving over 1,000 federal benefits straight couples are receive, including pension benefits, estate tax benefits, and Social Security survivor benefits. Himes released the following statement.
“With hundreds of legally-married same-sex couples in Connecticut waiting for recognition and the benefits it will bring, it is unconscionable for the federal government to deny them equal protection any longer. People like Edith have paid an enormous price for this lingering inequality, and I am determined to see DOMA overturned. With the President, other elected officials from both sides of the aisle, and major businesses all expressing their support for equal marriage rights, I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will ultimately rule in favor of marriage equality and help our country take an enormous step towards achieving equal treatment for all Americans. I am proud to join over 200 of my colleagues in affirming the right of committed gay couples to have their marriages recognized by the federal government.