Last week, PFAW commended Chairman Leahy’s announcement that the Senate Judiciary Committee would soon take up DOMA repeal.

“I commend Senators Leahy, Feinstein, and the bill’s many supporters for their commitment to ending discrimination against same-sex couples,” said Michael Keegan, President of People For the American Way. “The Respect for Marriage Act will help thousands of American citizens experience full equality under the law. All citizens deserve the opportunity to enjoy benefits that only marriage can provide, and moving this bill out of Committee will be an important step toward making that ideal a reality.”

Today, Chairman Leahy announced the date for this historic markup: November 3, 2011.

“The march for equality continues, and now is the time to ensure equality for gay and lesbian Americans who are lawfully married,” said Leahy, who is a cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act. “Next month, I will call up the Respect for Marriage Act for debate and a vote in the Judiciary Committee. The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents thousands of American families from being protected by laws that help secure other American families. This is part of the nation’s continuing fight for civil rights for all Americans.”

Because Committee rules allow for votes to be postponed the first time they’re raised, this date may slip to November 10. In any case, PFAW is pleased to see that Chairman Leahy has followed through on his previous announcement and put DOMA repeal on the agenda.

Please take a moment to add your name to PFAW's petition urging Congress to Dump DOMA and end this unconstitutional, discriminatory policy once and for all.

Note: Generally the Policy Corner is about legislative advocacy, where I write to you as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Public Policy department at People For the American Way.