Governors Andrew Cuomo of New York,
Martin O'Malley of Maryland and Jerry Brown of California are among
the 15 political leaders urging Congress to eliminate the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law that bars federal agencies and the
military from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian
couples.
A bill that would repeal DOMA cleared
a Senate committee late last week.
In a letter released before the Senate
committee vote, the elected officials voiced their support for
repeal.
“Tens of thousands of loving and
committed gay and lesbian couples have been strengthened because our
states recognize their equal right to marry,” the letter reads.
“These couples work hard, pay taxes and share the same values as
other married couples but they are constantly hamstrung in their
ability to protect themselves and their families because of the
discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.”
Other co-signers of the letter include
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee and New York Mayor
Michael Bloomberg.
O'Malley has pledged to shepherd a gay
marriage bill through the next legislative session, which begins in
January.