Virginia Senator Mark Warner Launches Petition To Strike Down DOMA

 While he was Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner - now a U.S. Senator - was perhaps the most LGBT friendly governor in the history of the Commonwealth.   Among other things, he signed an Executive Order barring employment discrimination against LGBT state employees (the Executive Order was continued by Tim Kaine when he became Governor only to die undercurrent GOP Governor Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell).    More recently, Warner has endorsed gay marriage and he now continues his pro-gay stance by launching a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") as unconstitutional.   Here's what the new petition website has to say:

SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY: SIGN THE PETITION

Even though many states now recognize the rights of committed same-sex couples to marry, the federal government continues to discriminate. Same-sex couples are denied all sorts of legal rights – like access to their spouse’s insurance benefits and Social Security survivor benefits – because of an outdated law called DOMA.

That’s just wrong. All married couples should be entitled to the same legal rights – regardless of sexual orientation.

The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments challenging the Constitutionality of DOMA, and will rule on the issue soon.

Please use the form below to stand with Mark Warner and make your voice heard. Urge the Court to strike down DOMA so that committed same-sex couples get the same legal rights as anyone else.

I hope readers - especially those in Virginia will sign the petition.