Federal update: Record number of Respect for Marriage Act cosponsors

The Respect for Marriage Act has gained two new cosponsors in the House, bringing the total number of cosponsors to a record-breaking 122! Today, Congressman Jim Langevin of Rhode Island and Congressman Tim Walz of Minnesota announced their support of the bill that will overturn the so-called Defense of Marriage Act in a statement released by Congressman Jerry Nadler, the lead sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act in the House. In his release, Congressman Nadler took note of this historic development:

“As the march toward full equality for LGBT Americans is seeing some real, concrete progress, the movement to repeal DOMA is steadily growing stronger and more robust,” said Nadler.  “The coalition working for LGBT rights in the Congress and the nation as a whole is larger than ever before, and we gain new allies every day. And, just this year, New York State enacted marriage equality, hammering one more nail into the coffin of bigotry and discrimination against gays and lesbians.  Dumping DOMA is simply not a question of if but when.” 

Langevin and Walz's support of the Respect for Marriage Act comes weeks after Freedom to Marry partnered with statewide LGBT organizations in Rhode Island and Minnesota to get these members on board. As part of our aggressive federal program, Freedom to Marry's field and new media teams worked with Marriage Equality Rhode Island and OutFront Minnesota to reach out to Congressional offices and generate hundreds of constituent contacts in support of repealing DOMA.

This historic development in the House, coupled with Senator Barbara Mikulski's announcement last week that she would become the 30th cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act in the Senate, makes it clear that the momentum to end federal marriage discrimination is at an all-time high and that our strategy is working! Our staff is continuing to work with local, state, and national partners to secure more cosponsors, and with the help of Freedom to Marry members across the country, we're certain that more and more elected officials will take a stand against DOMA. 

Ask your members of Congress to join the growing number of cosponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act. Click here to send them a message now.