Getty Images
When it comes to political figures who've evolved on gay rights since serving in public office, few have traveled quite as far as former President Bill Clinton. It was, after all, the former Democratic president who signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, and even bragged about it during his re-election bid.
But today, Clinton comes full circle, writing a Washington Post op-ed, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to undo the mistake he made in his first term.
In 1996, I signed the Defense of Marriage Act. Although that was only 17 years ago, it was a very different time. In no state in the union was same-sex marriage recognized, much less available as a legal right, but some were moving in that direction. Washington, as a result, was swirling with all manner of possible responses, some quite draconian. As a bipartisan group of former senators stated in their March 1 amicus brief to the Supreme Court, many supporters of the bill known as DOMA believed that its passage "would defuse a movement to enact a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which would have ended the debate for a generation or more." It was under these circumstances that DOMA came to my desk, opposed by only 81 of the 535 members of Congress.
On March 27, DOMA will come before the Supreme Court, and the justices must decide whether it is consistent with the principles of a nation that honors freedom, equality and justice above all, and is therefore constitutional. As the president who signed the act into law, I have come to believe that DOMA is contrary to those principles and, in fact, incompatible with our Constitution.
Supreme Court arguments are set for March 27. A ruling is expected by the summer.
Leave a Comment:
C'mon Justice Kennedy, do the right thing!
I think the vote may be more lopsided than that - Roberts does not want this "No" vote on his legacy.
We cannot become a perfect union, until we acknowledge all. We are one. United we stand, United we fall and if our backs should ever be against the wall, we'll be together, you and I. And you and I reach out for reasons to go home....Yes.
I mean, I'm glad he's on the bandwagon, but I really would've liked an apology. He was wrong and he should admit it.
The "equal treatment under the law" aspects of this case make the correct decision obvious. It should be a unanimous decision. Sadly, it won't. We all know how some justices on the court will vote even before they hear the case. Sadly, as far as they are concerned, neither the facts of the case or the Constitution are relevant. They always determine a ruling based solely upon their ideological social agenda.
Scalia - DOMA is constitutional
Thomas - DOMA is constitutional
Roberts - DOMA is constitutonal
Alito - DOMA is constitutional
As for the remaining five justices, I believe they will do the right thing.
DOMA is clearly unconstitutional. That, or we're gonna have to toss equal application of the law out the window based solely on what you do in your bedroom. If the Supreme Court upholds this, it will be as embarrassing as it is infuriating.
Good for Bill. It takes wisdom to recognize and admit a mistake. He'll make a hell of a good advisor to President Clinton!
Bill is not afraid of coveralls and a shovel following behind the mounted color guard. Heck he may even drive the honey wagon now and again to keep the public facilities lining the parade route clean enough for Hillary to run.
Coming full circle doesn't mean what you think it means, Steve. It means returning to your original position. Let's hope Clinton does not do that.