Libertarian Presidential Nominee Supports Repeal of DOMA

In yet another example of shifting attitudes toward gay and lesbian couples, Libertarian Party presidential nominee, Bob Barr has announced his vow to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which excludes gay and lesbian families from federal marriage protections—a measure he authored and championed in 1996 while serving as a Republican Congressman from Georgia’s seventh district. On this point, Barr states, "The Defense of Marriage Act insofar has provided the federal government a club to club down rights of law-abiding American citizens, has been abused, misused, and should be repealed, and I will work to repeal it." The announcement was made at the Libertarian National Committee’s convention in Denver on May 25 amid little fanfare and zero mainstream media coverage. Only a few blogs picked up the story.

Barr also proclaimed his support for the recent California Supreme Court ruling extending marriage to gay and lesbian couples, noting that his original intent in supporting DOMA was to give states the authority to decide the marriage question. He says:

Regardless of whether one supports or opposes same sex-marriage, the decision to recognize such unions or not ought to be a power each state exercises on its own, rather than imposition of a one-size-fits-all mandate by the federal government -- as would be required by a Federal Marriage Amendment, which has been previously proposed and considered by the Congress. The decision today by the supreme court of California properly reflects this fundamental principle of federalism on which our nation was founded.

Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama is the only other candidate who has clearly stated his support for a full repeal of DOMA. Meanwhile, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain have voiced support in leaving it up to individual states to decide.

As we approach mid-June, when gay and lesbian couples in California will begin legally marrying for the first time, mainstream media should push all the candidates to clarify their positions on marriage and explain what protections they support and why— while scrutinizing statements that continue to fall short of full disclosure.

Cindi Creager is the Director of National News.