After news broke that Obama will no longer defend DOMA (Defense Of Marriage Act), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Maeo) released the following statement:
The Declaration of Independence got it right—we are all created equal. The Defense of Marriage Act is nothing more than government sanctioned discrimination that has no place in the land of the free. It is one in a long line of disgraceful policies that have relegated gay and lesbian Americans to second class citizenship. I am very pleased that President Obama has ordered his justice Department to stop defending this unconstitutional law. Today’s action is an important first step. Congress now must move forward on legislation to repeal DOMA once and for all. It is time to adopt marriage equality for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Is Obama right? (Hint: most likely, yes.) Or, as some constitutionally concerned SFist commenters have asked, is our President making yet another attempt at ruining the fabric of the U.S. and its lawyer-laden intricacies?