I included this in the post below about Barney Frank's refusal to sponsor the DOMA repeal bill, but it really warrant its own post. After the Washington Blade posted the original article, reporter Chris Johnson updated his piece to include a response from Rep. Nadler:
Nadler defended the legislation in a statement, saying that claims made by repeal opponents shouldn't prevent the bill's introduction.Thanks, Jerry Nadler. You're right.
"Mr. Frank knows better than anyone that our opponents will falsely claim that any DOMA repeal bill 'exports marriage' in an effort to generate fear and misunderstanding," Nadler said. "But the dishonest tactics of our opponents should not stop us from aggressively pushing to end this horrific discrimination now, as is the consensus of the nation's top LGBT groups who all support this approach."
Nadler emphasized that the proposed bill wouldn't force any state to marry gay couples or recognize same-sex couples under state law.
"Our bill allows states to continue deciding those questions, while ensuring uniform access to critically important federal responsibilities and rights that hinge on marriage and upon which all married couples should be able to rely," he said.
