Obama wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, Patrick Leahy, and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced a bill that would repeal the federal government’s ban on same-sex marriage, and President Obama is supporting it. The president has “long called for a legislative appeal for the so-called Defense of Marriage Act which continues to have a real impact on families,” White House spokesman Jay Carney announced. The president is “proud to support” the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, Carney said. The Obama administration announced in February that it believes the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and would no longer defend it in court.

[via NationalJournal.com]