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Quigley Responds to President's Statement That DOMA is Discriminatory

August 18, 2009

CHICAGO Responding to a Justice Department filing (Smelt v. United States U.S. District Court in California) stating that the Obama Administration "does not support DOMA as a matter of policy," Cong. Mike Quigley (D-IL) issued the following statement:

"It is encouraging to see the Administration state in a court document what we all know to be true - that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is discriminatory and demands repeal. Even though DOMA continues to be upheld, we are seeing cracks in the foundation upon which opponents have built their case for decades.

We will continue to fight to tear down the wall of inequality until everyone is treated not only with fairness and respect, but with equity under the law. I look forward to working with my colleagues and President Obama to repeal this law and end discrimination once and for all Americans."


An emerging national advocate for the LGBT community, Quigley has cosponsored over a dozen bills that work toward equality during his first 100 days in office. Immediately after being sworn in this past April, Quigley's first act in Congress was to co-sponsor the Hate Crimes bill, not long after which he called for the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and joined Reps. Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis to introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Quigley also sent a personal letter to President Obama urging him to include same-sex marriages in the 2010 Census.

Quigley is a member of the Congressional Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equality Caucus. Back at home, he has formed a district LGBT Advisory Council of community leaders to function as a resource on important issues as well. Over sixty community leaders are already engaged members of the Council.

As Cook County Commissioner (1998-2009), Quigley worked tirelessly to ensure that Cook County did not do business with groups that discriminate based on sexual orientation. Additionally, Quigley passed two groundbreaking ordinances that extended health benefits to gay and lesbian partners of County employees and created the Cook Country Domestic Partnership Registry, which allows domestic partners to more easily secure benefits for one another.

Issues:Equality