Prop 8 Action Turns to Organizing

On Saturday January 10th, supporters of GLBT Marriage Equality came together at Sabathani Community Center to discuss the effects of DOMA ("Defense of Marriage Act" - the federal law banning recognition of marriage for same-sex couples) and collect signatures for a petition addressed to President-Elect Barack Obama.

The petition calls for the President–Elect to keep his promise to the GLBT community and repeal DOMA.  View the photos on Facebook.

After hearing from a couple married near Thunder Bay Canada and a host of other speakers the group gathered in the gym dispersed in search of supporters throughout the Metro Area. Over 800 signatures were collected for the petition and will be a contribution to the nationwide petition drive through Join The Impact.

The "Defense of Marriage Act" was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1996 and prevents even legally married same-sex couples from being recognized as married under federal law. So, for example, a surviving spouse who'd been legally married in Massachusetts or Connecticut cannot receive the social security benefits of their deceased spouse, even though this is a given for heterosexual married people across the country.
 
Stay tuned to OutFront Minnesota's E-news and website for further information on what will hopefully be a positive organizing movement sprung from the outrage over the passage of Prop 8 in California, which overturned marriage equality for same-sex couples after it had been won in court last spring.