Obama’s Justice Department: Government not required to give any benefits to legally married gay couples
”In making this filing, the department is bound by the only precedent that exists, which is that no court has found such a right to federal benefits based upon marital status to be constitutionally required.”
Tracy Schmaler, spokeswoman for the US Justice Department, on their recent request for a US Court in Massachusetts to dismiss a lawsuit brought on by several legally married gay couples who have been denied federal marriage benefits. Schmaler says that the Department’s position is that the US Congress passed the “Defense of Marriage Act,” and therefore it is up to Congress to extend benefits to gay marriages. President Barack Obama is widely known for taking a dual stance on gay marriage — thinks DOMA should be repealed, but personally believes marriage is for heterosexual couples only. (Reuters)
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