Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 13:35:37 GMT
Subject: RESCUING EXISTING SAME-SEX MARRIAGES FROM DOMA
From: riki@nyc.pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)


CONTACTS:  
Dana Priesing  
DPriesing@aol.com 
(703)578-0903 
 
Riki Anne Wilchins 
GPac@Gpac.Org 
(212)645-1753 
 
 
GENDERPAC CALLS FOR "FAMILY  
PRESERVATION ACT" TO RESCUE EXISTING  
SAME-SEX MARRIAGES FROM DOMA 
==================================== 
 
        [Washington, DC - September 11,  
1996]  Decrying the recently-enacted  
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the  
national advocacy organization GenderPAC  
has called on Congress to enact a  
"Family Preservation Act" to exempt  
existing, legal, same-sex marriages from  
DOMA-induced nullification.   
 
       At risk are scores of transgender  
couples in stable, long-term, marriages  
- many with school-age children - in  
which one partner or the other has  
legally changed their sex.  Although the  
change of sex is recognized by the  
Federal government, under DOMA the  
marriage is not.   
 
       Not only are such families at  
risk of losing federal recognition but - 
- in case of death or disability -- the  
surviving spouse risks losing all rights  
to his or her partner's federal  
benefits, including federal pensions,  
Social Security, and portions of  
Worker's Compensation. 
  
	Said GenderPAC Congressional  
Advocacy Coordinator Dana Priesing,  
"Just like everywhere else, in the  
transcommunity people meet, fall in  
love, get married, and have children.   
Later one spouse undergoes gender  
reassignment, but just because he or she  
has legally changed sex, doesn't mean  
they suddenly cease being one-half of a  
working and productive family.  Now DOMA  
has unnecessarily placed scores of such  
marriages in jeopardy." 
 
      Declared Riki Anne Wilchins,  
GenderPAC's Executive Director, "It is  
unconscionable that stable, long-term  
marriages are being pulled asunder  
by the federal government.  How can  
nullifying a loving, two-parent  
marriage, which is successfully raising  
children, possibly help `family values?'   
These are exactly the kinds of  
families everyone wants to preserve." 
 
     In an effort to protect validly- 
contracted same-sex marriages from  
DOMA's reach, GenderPAC has drafted  
corrective legislation, and is beginning  
its search for Congressional  
sponsorship.  At the same time, Ms.  
Priesing is seeking clarification from  
the Department of Justice on the fate of  
existing same-sex unions under DOMA. 
           ### 
 
 
(c) 1996 InYourFace 
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