March 2

Only Collins hasn’t signed court brief supporting same-sex marriage

As the rest of Maine’s delegation calls for an end to the Defense of Marriage Act, she says states should decide the issue.

By Kevin Miller kmiller@mainetoday.com
Washington Bureau Chief

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For instance, the Uniting American Families Act would allow a gay or lesbian U.S. citizen to sponsor a foreign-born spouse for a green card, just as is allowed for heterosexual married couples.

Collins' record is encouraging to groups that hope the high court will overturn the Defense of Marriage Act.

"We are very grateful to the three members of our delegation who signed the DOMA 'friend of the court' brief,'" Ian Grady, spokesman for the organization Equality Maine, said Friday. "We are looking forward to having a conversation with Sen. Collins about how DOMA is hurting same-sex couples in Maine. And we are optimistic about that conversation because of her past support for LGBT issues and her support for the Uniting American Families Act."

The case over the Defense of Marriage Act involves an elderly Connecticut woman, Edith Windsor, who had to pay more than $300,000 in federal estate taxes after the death of her partner of 40-plus years, to whom she was legally married.

The California case to be heard by the Supreme Court seeks to overturn that state's Proposition 8, outlawing same-sex marriage.

The ruling could be broadened to apply to states with similar prohibitions.

More than 100 Republicans who have held office, held leadership positions or served in top government jobs filed a brief Friday urging the court to overturn Proposition 8.

Among them was Mark Ellis, a former chairman of the Maine Republican Party who is still involved in state politics.

Kevin Miller can be contacted at 317-6256 or at:

kmiller@mainetoday.com

On Twitter: @KevinMillerDC

 

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