Pelosi Backs Obama on Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

DOMA law protects states from being forced to recognize out-of-state homosexual “marriages”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is a Catholic, yet she is an ardent proponent of homosexual activism and abortion-on-demand — both opposed by the Church. Pelosi’s San Francisco district allows men to walk completely nude in public and have homosexual orgies on city streets.

CNSNews.com reports:

Pelosi Backs Obama on Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

August 01, 2008

By Josiah Ryan, Staff Writer

(CNSNews.com) – If Barack Obama is elected president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will support him in fulfilling his vow to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which currently protects states from having to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in other states as they ordinarily would be required to do by the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution.

“Yes,” Pelosi said Thursday at a press conference, when CNSNews.com asked if she would support Obama’s policy. Hear CNS Audio HERE.

The DOMA defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, the DOMA protects states from having to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in other states.

Ordinarily, under the “Full Faith and Credit Clause” of the Constitution, states are required to recognize “the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.”

The “pride” section of the Obama campaign Web site reads: “Obama also believes we need to fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions.”

In July 1996, DOMA passed the Republican-controlled House by a margin of 342 to 67. Pelosi voted against the bill along with 64 other Democrats.

On Thursday, Pelosi did not elaborate on her statement and her office declined to give CNSNews.com further explanation of her position.

CNSNews.com also asked members of the Senate leadership, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), if they would support Obama in repealing DOMA. But both senators said they did not have a definitive position on the issue yet.

“I don’t know,” said Schumer. “We have to see what kind of legislation is introduced.”

“I want to take a look at it, I haven’t made a decision, I haven’t even thought about it,” said Durbin. “But I will look at his decision.”

Schumer and Durbin voted for DOMA in 1996 as members of the House.

The bill passed the Senate on Sept. 10, 1996 by a margin of 85 to14.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also voted in favor of DOMA as a senator in 1996.