Watch: Highlights from the Senate Respect for Marriage Act Hearing

By Michael Crawford
Jul 20, 2011 at 10:35 am

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act is happening now. You can watch it live at 

Below are some highlights of the first panel of witnesses. Video courtesy of Think Progress. 

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) questions Focus on the Family's Tom Minnery about his misrepresentation of a HHS study while claiming that children are better off being raised in homes with opposite-sex couples. The study found that children fair best when raised in homes with two parents regardless of gender. 

Under questioning from Sen. Patrick Leahy, Focus on the Family's Tom Minnery admits that children are disadvantaged by lack of protections for same-sex couples.