WASHINGTON, July 19 (UPI) -- President Obama backs legislation that would repeal the law that limits recognition of gay marriage in the United States, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The Respect for Marriage Act, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Gerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., would abolish the Defense of Marriage Act's definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The Defense of Marriage Act allows states where gay marriage is not legal to ignore unions contracted where they were legal and bans the federal government from providing benefits of any kind to gay couples.
"I can tell you that the president has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people, our families, friends and neighbors," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in response to a question at Tuesday's briefing.
Carney said he has no new information on whether the administration will continue to protect the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in court. The policy remains in force while the military prepares to comply with a law repealing it, although the Defense Department recently said open gays will no longer be required to leave the military.
