Murray, 210 members of the House and Senate weigh in for marriage equality ahead of oral arguments at nation’s highest court on April 28
(WASHINGTON, D.C. –
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), joined a bicameral group of lawmakers in leading an amicus brief in the marriage equality cases that are on appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The four cases from Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan and Kentucky challenge state laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying and deny recognition to lawful marriages performed by other states. The Supreme Court will decide whether the Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the freedom to marry and to have their marriages respected nationwide.
“I am so proud that Washington state has been a leader in advancing LGBT equality and ensuring that all loving couples have the right to marry, but for far too many Americans, inequality remains.” said Senator Murray. “I am hopeful the Supreme Court will right this wrong and deliver on the promise of equality for all couples across the country, regardless of who they love.”
A total of 44 members of the Senate and 167 Members of the House of Representatives signed on to the brief. Read the full text of the amicus brief here.
In 2013, Senator Murray joined 211 members of the House and Senate in filing an amici curiae brief in the United States Supreme Court in U.S. v. Edith Schlain Windsor, asking the Supreme Court to strike down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, which prevented the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. The Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Windsor has led lower courts to strike down dozens of state-level bans on same-sex marriage. The case to be heard by the Supreme Court in April, Obergefell, et al., v. Hodges, et al., has the potential to overturn the remaining barriers to nationwide recognition of marriage equality. Read the full text of the 2013 amicus curiae brief here.
Lead Signatories:
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Democratic Leader
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Democratic Leader
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Lead Senate Sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act
Rep. Jarrold Nadler (D-NY), Lead House Sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senate Assistant Democratic Leader
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), House Democratic Whip
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Vice Chair of Senate Democratic Conference
Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC), House Assistant Democratic Leader
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Secretary of Senate Democratic Conference
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Ranking Member of Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ranking Member of House Committee on the Judiciary
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), Co-Chair of House LGBT Equality Caucus
Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Co-Chair of House LGBT Equality Caucus
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Co-Chair of House LGBT Equality Caucus
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Co-Chair of House LGBT Equality Caucus
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Co-Chair of House LGBT Equality Caucus
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Co-Chair of House LGBT Equality Caucus
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