WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council criticized the Senate Judiciary Committee today for its vote to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

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The Defense of Marriage Act was approved in 1996 by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both houses of Congress (342-67 in the House, 85-14 in the Senate) and signed into law by President Clinton.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments:

"Today's vote disrespects Americans across the country who want to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman – and have done as much in the 31 states who have passed statewide referenda in favor of marriage. It will also require Americans in every state to subsidize homosexual couples by using tax dollars to provide them with federal benefits.

"Marriage is not some prize that liberals can award to a small, vocal and already well-off special interest group.  Marriage between one man and one woman was created prior to the formation of any governments and is given benefits by governments because it uniquely contributes to a productive society. 

"DOMA has stood the test of time, being upheld as constitutional by several courts and successfully ensuring that federal law reflects our national consensus on marriage and that states will not have a radical redefinition of marriage forced upon them by other states.

"I urge the U.S. Senate to defend DOMA, and oppose repeal of it or any of its provisions," concluded Perkins.

For more information on the Defense of Marriage Act, read Family Research Council's pamphlet on the law here: http://www.frc.org/doma.

Read the Family Research Council's amicus brief in the Massachusetts Defense of Marriage Act case here: http://www.frc.org/legalbrief/commonwealth-of-massachusetts-v-us-department-of-health-and-human-services.

SOURCE Family Research Council

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