This should be a no-brainer on so many levels. It's beyond annoying that Senator Barbara Mikulski even has to be lobbied to support DOMA repeal. It should be enough that the Maryland same-sex couples who get legally married out-of-state face discrimination under DOMA. From Chris Johnson:
A coalition of LGBT rights advocates — made up of Courage Campaign, Freedom to Marry and Equality Maryland — are building pressure on Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) to co-sponsor the Respect for Marriage Act by circulating a petition among Maryland residents asking her to support the bill.If Mikulski wants the spotlight on her over DOMA, so be it. She should realize that it's 2011. Views on LGBT equality and marriage have changed dramatically since she entered public office. Her constituents deserve better.
As of Tuesday, organizers had collected more than 3,000 names for the petition encouraging Mikulski to voice support for the Respect for Marriage Act. LGBT rights advocates were set to deliver the petition to Mikulski’s Baltimore, Md., office on Friday.
LGBT rights advocates said Mikulski’s lack of co-sponsorship of the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), is particularly striking because other elected officials in her states have voiced support for same-sex marriage and because plans are in motion to legalize same-sex marriage in the state next year.
