Barney Frank

Barney Frank: America On The Verge Of Marriage Equality 'Within 10 Years'

Sahil Kapur | May 10, 2012, 6:15AM

Longtime Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), the first member of Congress to reveal himself to be gay, told TPM he was very happy to see President Obama endorse same-sex marriage, but characterized the move as a political no-brainer that would have little impact on the 2012 election.

"I do not think anybody is going to switch his or her opinion on him because of this," Frank said shortly after Obama's announcement Wednesday afternoon. "I believe that if you are someone who was going to be so influenced by your position on same-sex marriage, then you would already be against Obama before this, because of his position on [the Defense of Marriage Act]."

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Defense Of Marriage Act

Even After 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' Gay Soldiers Remain Unequal In The Military

Brian Beutler | November 3, 2011, 6:00AM

Paul Kennedy / Shutterstock

Two weeks ago, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) neatly demonstrated the power of retail politics -- and at the same time brought to light a legal conflict that has made the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell a bumpy affair.

Shaheen had intervened on behalf of a constituent named Charlie Morgan -- an openly gay Chief Warrant Officer in the New Hampshire National Guard -- who had just returned from a deployment in Kuwait, only to be forbidden by the military from bringing her spouse Karen to an event aimed at helping families deal with the transition back to life at home.

It's unthinkable that a straight, married service member would have faced this kind of obstacle. But though Don't Ask, Don't Tell had been stricken from the books, and Morgan was allowed to serve openly, the Defense of Marriage Act still allowed the New Hampshire National Guard to deny her spouse authorization to attend the so-called Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

Shaheen took Morgan's case straight to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the policy was quickly reversed -- the Morgans were allowed to attend Yellow Ribbon event earlier this month.

But the problem isn't limited to reintegration events or the New Hampshire National Guard. It's happening nationwide -- the ripples of an inherent tension between the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the continued existence of the Defense of Marriage Act. So advocates, politicians, and service members are handing megaphones to service members and their spouses who have suffered as a result of the conflict, to see the Defense of Marriage Act overturned by the courts or repealed by Congress.

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War On Terror

Obama Would Veto Defense Bill Over Detainee Provisions

Susan Crabtree | May 24, 2011, 6:35PM

President Barack Obama

The White House is threatening to veto the annual must-pass House Defense Authorization bill over language limiting his ability to transfer detainees overseas or try them in civilian court, among other issues.

In addition, the White House is taking strong exception to language dramatically expanding the president's power to wage the war on terror indefinitely, among other provisions.

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Same Sex Marriage

For First Time Ever, Gallup Finds Majority Support Same Sex Marriage

Jon Terbush | May 20, 2011, 11:11AM

In a historic shift, a Gallup poll released Friday morning finds that for the first time, a majority of Americans suport legalizing same sex marriage.

That result reinforces a trove of recent polls that have produced similar findings, and it furthers a trend of Americans gradually becoming more accepting of legal recognition for same sex couples. It comes as Republicans are taking legal action over the Obama administration's decision to no longer defend parts of the Defense of Marriage Act on grounds of constitutionality.

In the poll, 53% of Americans said they supported same sex marriage, compared to 45% who said they did not. That's almost exactly the opposite of what Gallup found last year, when 53% of Americans opposed same sex marriage, while 44% supported it.

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Defense Of Marriage Act

Boehner's Lawyer To Charge $520 Per Hour, Up To Half A Million To Defend DOMA

Ryan J. Reilly | April 19, 2011, 1:55PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and former United States Solicitor General Paul Clement

Former Bush Solicitor General Paul Clement, the lawyer House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) chose to support the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of Congress, will be paid $520 per hour in taxpayer money up to $500,000, according to a contract his law firm signed with the General Counsel of the House and the House Administration Committee.

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Defense Of Marriage Act

Boehner Picks Bush Solicitor General Paul Clement To Defend DOMA

Ryan J. Reilly | April 18, 2011, 3:45PM

Attorney Gen. Eric Holder and Paul Clement

Former Bush-era Solicitor General Paul Clement will defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of Congress, House Speaker John Boehner announced Monday.

Boehner's appointment followed Attorney General Eric Holder's decision that the Obama Justice Department would not defend DOMA, a 1996 law which defines marriage as a legal union only between one man and one woman.

The Republican's appointment quickly drew praise from the anti-gay marriage camp and ire from marriage equality supporters. In dueling press releases, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) praised Clement as a "legal eagle on this case who actually wants to win in court," while the Human Rights Campaign called Clement "a high priced attorney" who Boehner hired "to deny federal recognition to loving, married couples."

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DOMA

Boehner: DOJ Funds Should Be Cut Since They Wouldn't Defend DOMA

Ryan J. Reilly | April 18, 2011, 12:10PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said Monday that he wants to cut the Justice Department's funding because the Obama administration has decided not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

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DOMA

Boehner: House Will Intervene To Defend DOMA

Brian Beutler | March 9, 2011, 6:06PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

In a statement Wednesday night, House Speaker John Boehner officially announced his intent for the House to intervene as a third party defendant in court cases challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act.

"Today, after consultation with the Bipartisan Leadership Advisory Group, the House General Counsel has been directed to initiate a legal defense of this law," Boehner said in the statement. "This action by the House will ensure that this law's constitutionality is decided by the courts, rather than by the President unilaterally."

In a letter to Boehner announcing the administration's decision not to defend the law in court, Holder nudged at the idea that Boehner could step in and do it himself. Not that they want the law to prevail in court, of course, but because they're perfectly happy for a GOP leader to become the face of what has become an unpopular cause.

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112th Congress

Boehner: I'll Decide Whether To Defend DOMA In Court By End Of This Week

Benjy Sarlin | February 28, 2011, 10:15AM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

Speaker John Boehner is ready to take on the White House over the Defense of Marriage Act, pledging to force the issue in the House after the Justice Department announced last week it was abandoning support for portions of the law.

"I'm really disappointed in the President and the Department of Justice in the fact that they're not going to defend a law that Congress passed overwhelmingly. It's their responsibility to do that," he told CBN's David Brody on Sunday.

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Rick Santorum

Santorum On DOMA: Part Of Obama's 'Effort To Erode' America

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 23, 2011, 9:32PM

Potential Republican presidential candidate and noted "traditional values" defender Rick Santorum is, unsurprisingly, upset with the Obama administration's decision to no longer defend the constitutionality of the Defense Of Marriage Act.

In a statement released tonight, Santorum said President Obama's decision on DOMA is "is yet another example of our president's effort to erode the very traditions that have made our country the greatest nation on earth."

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112th Congress

Dem Rep. Polis: WH DOMA Decision Should Remove Marriage As Federal Issue

Benjy Sarlin | February 23, 2011, 3:59PM

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), one of the House's leading gay rights advocates, told TPM that he was "thrilled" by the White House's decision to drop its legal support for the Defense of Marriage Act.

"It's a big deal," he said over the phone. "I'm just thrilled they came to this conclusion sooner rather than later. I think that any sound legal analysis will come to the same conclusion and any defense of this law is a break with precedent, with tradition, and an overreach of power by the federal government."

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Defense Of Marriage Act

LGBT Groups: White House DOMA Decision A Big Effing Deal

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 23, 2011, 1:50PM

LGBT advocacy groups are welcoming the Obama administration's decision to no longer defend parts of the Defense Of Marriage Act in court.

"I'm feeling great, as you can imagine," Freedom To Marry Political Director Sean Eldridge told TPM. "This is a huge moment and a huge step forward on our issue of marriage but just for the entire country."

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