Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) cosponsors the Respect for Marriage Act
September 15, 2011
Just two days after his state passed an anti-gay constitutional amendment that will put the freedom to marry on the statewide ballot in November 2012, Congressman Brad Miller of North Carolina's 13th District signed on as a cosponsor to the Respect for Marriage Act, the bill that will overturn the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Rep. Miller is now the 123rd cosponsor in the House. There are currently 30 cosponsors in the Senate.
In an interview with the Advocate, Miller spoke out against the anti-gay amendment fast-tracked through North Carolina's General Assembly this week:
“This is entirely about putting on the ballot a very divisive issue for political purposes ... and to try to lock in the attitudes of one generation. The amendment goes well beyond marriage and would prohibit any type of civil union legal recognition as well.”
Miller's decision to cosponsor the repeal of DOMA occurs in the midst of unprecedented momentum for ending federal marriage discrimination. On Tuesday, Congressman Jerry Nadler, the lead sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act in the House, announced a record number of cosponsors in the House as Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) signed on as cosponsors.
Our Federal Director Jo Deutsch celebrated Representative Miller's support:
"Freedom to Marry applauds Rep. Miller's leadership on marriage as North Carolina faces an anti-gay ballot measure that would keep loving, committed couples across the state from being able to protect one another and their families. Just as the so-called Defense of Marriage Act denies these families the critical safety-net of marriage, such anti-gay measures add an additional roadblock to the protections marriage brings. We will continue to work with all Members of Congress to garner support for the Respect for Marriage Act so that legally married same-sex couples no longer have to face such unfair burdens in taking care of one another.
Freedom to Marry is collaborating with local and state partners around the country to build support for the Respect for Marriage Act and urge more federal elected officials to cosponsor this crucial legislation. With the help of our members, we've demonstrated to members of Congress why marriage matters and how DOMA harms families they are elected to represent.
Visit the Respect for Marriage Act page on Freedom to Marry's website to learn how you can take action now to help us secure more cosponsors and grow support for ending DOMA once and for all.