Just How Far Have Christians Strayed From The Bible

In my home state of Indiana, a little boy sings a song about who will and will not make it to heaven and people cheer.

The Bible says that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angles over one sinner that repents...not over people going to hell.  How did we stray so far away from God's will, God's commands, and God's love?

At the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church in which I grew up, I have heard sermon after sermon on how homosexuality is the last step before God gives up on a nation.  Once I heard one of the street preachers of our church say, "My name is .....  and all homosexuals are going to hell..."

We have Westboro Baptist Church with the signs that say, "God hates Fags..."  Other Baptist Churches disown them only because they say that the only soldier that God loves is a dead soldier.


My wife and I tried to put our son in the local Baptist Church School and they refused to allow him to attend.  They sent us a letter saying that "we have nothing to offer your son...".  I now believe that.  However, at the time I cried.  I sent them a letter saying, what about telling and teaching him of Jesus?  I never got a reply.  I even called and the Pastor refused to speak with me.











Where does all this judgement and hate come from? Let us examine the life of Christ. Christian means Christ like. The Bible says, "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" John 3:17 KJV
The ruling religious people of the time hated Jesus so much that they killed him. What did they hate about Him?

     1. He ate with Publicans and sinners
      2. He healed the sick
     3. He raised the dead
     4. He spoke with  Samaritans (The Woman at the Well)

Today's Christians would not pass the "love your neighbor as yourself...". Today's Christians would probably put Jesus to death for hanging out with sinners. Jesus would probably go into bars to tell the people in there of His love. He would go and have dinner with mobsters and murders to let them know that the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost....and Christians today would not be able to accept that. They would have to judge the Almighty as being "worldly" as did the Pharisees of old. Just how far have Christians today strayed from what Christ's message is? "For God so loved the world....that whosoever...." John 3:16 KJV

 "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost..." How much have Christians become like the Pharisees? (...I thank God that I am not like this man...)  They have strayed from Jesus.....Very very Much.

 

All I am asking is that before passing this type of hate and judgement, you ask yourself, what would Jesus have me say to this person.  What would Jesus want me to tell this person?

How much have you actually studied at what the Bible REALLY says about homosexuality?  

Christians vs Gays

Today I read where a teenager, who is gay, said the following, "...I know that God hates me..."
As a Christian, when I read that, my heart sunk.  When did we as Christians fail a whole group of people?  When did we think it was right to tell them that God hates them and their "lifestyle"?  When did we as Christians go from the Great Commission to passing God's judgement onto a people?

I know what Romans says.  It was written by Paul to the Church of the Romans.  I am not here to argue that.  I am not here to argue that the Bible never condemns a monogamous same sex relationship.  I am here to say that as Christians, we have failed to tell a group of people that God loves them.  We are too busy pointing out what the Bible says that we have failed to point out what the Bible says...yes I meant that.

We need to look and see how the Son of God lived His life on this earth.  He ate with the publicans and sinners.  That was the biggest criticism that the ruling religious body of the time had against Jesus.  Jesus chose to hang out with them to tell them of God's love.  John 3:17 says, "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  So God's sole purpose of sending His beloved Son into the world was so that they could be saved.

Christians today seem to have forgotten that Matthew 28:19 &20 says Go and Teach ... not go and judge.  They seem to have forgotten that God calls lying an abomination.  They seem to have forgotten that the reason Christians are left on this Earth and not taken to Heaven immediately after conversion is to tell others of Jesus' love, death, burial and resurrection.

My wife and I signed our son up for the Baptist Church Preschool.  Why?  Because we wanted him to learn about Jesus dying on the cross to save him from his sin.  We wanted him to learn about the Almighty sending His Son.  We received a letter stating that the preschool had nothing to offer our son.  We have reason to believe that the reason why is because we told them we are a lesbian couple.  Not one time did any of those people offer to us the Gospel.  The Good News of the Saviour.  

I am a Christian.  I am a lesbian.  There is no conflict.  I have the peace which passes all understanding and the knowledge that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

One more observation/question:  When is the last time, as a Christian, you have picked up your Bible and read it...outside of Church.  When is the last time you actually prayed for the salvation of the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people?  When is the last time you thought to actually study what the Bible really says about it with a prayerful attitude?

In Touch With The American Voters

What do the majority of United States Citizens think about Marriage Equality?

LOS ANGELES | Fri May 20, 2011 10:26pm EDT
 

(Reuters) - Fifty-three percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal, a Gallup poll showed on Friday, a marked reversal from just a year ago when an equal majority opposed same-sex matrimony.


 

Poll: More Americans favor same-sex marriage

Posted by

CNN Political Unit

(CNN) – Support for same-sex marriage has received a boost, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research survey released Tuesday.

The poll indicates that more than half of all Americans believe that marriages between gay or lesbian couples should be legally valid. With 51 percent of respondents saying that same-sex marriages should be legal, it is the first time that a CNN poll has found majority support for same-sex marriage.
Full results (pdf) 

Poll: Support for gay marriage continues to rise

November 03, 2011 

|By David Lauter,
Washington Bureau

Public acceptance of same-sex marriage has grown at an accelerating pace, with approval jumping by nine percentage points in the past two years and the nation now evenly divided on the issue, according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Thursday.
The poll, conducted in late September and early October, showed 46% of Americans surveyed support legalizing same-sex marriage and 44% are opposed. The survey among 2,410 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

***********************************************************

In listening to the arguments that Republicans put forth regarding the Respect for Marriage Act (at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing),  I was amazed at how little they cared about getting any new arguments.  As a matter of fact, most of the eight "nays" ... their NO votes were given by proxy.  They don't really care enough about the Lesbian and Gay community to even show up at the vote.  

Senator Grassley from Iowa of course puts up the inevitable tired argument "traditional  one man one woman marriage".  He is gently, affectionately and respectfully debunked by Senator Al Franken:  “We need to be accurate when we talk about the history of man and woman,” noting that at one point women were chattel.

After thirteen years of Independent Fundamental Baptist Bible School/College education, I did a lot of research. 
My findings:  The Bible Says - Homosexuality
 
I found a theologian who graduated from Harvard and the conservative Bob Jones University who wrote a book on reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex relationships called The Children Are Free.

Just because a person is straight, that doesn't mean that they have morals or family values.  Just because a person is a lesbian or gay, doesn't mean that they have no morals or family values.  This is yet another ancient argument that is proven wrong every day by decent, family oriented and loving same sex couples.

One of the most insulting arguements that was presented at the Judiciary Committee Respect for Marriage Act hearing was the following:

Senator Cornyn:
 
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) would actually result in an expansion of federal benefits and spending at a time when we know that federal spending is way out of control and our entitlement programs are unsustainable,"

"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act would actually increase the cost of Social Security that is already insolvent, more money is going out than coming in."

"No one, no one has paid into the Social Security system expecting benefits to be paid to same sex partners."

This man, this elected Senator actually believes that because a person is a lesbian or because they are gay, that they do not deserve to get federal benefits even though they have paid into it all of their lives. Um Senator, I am a lesbian and I believe that I and my family have the right to federal benefits.  I have been and still do pay in to Social Security expecting that I and/or my family will benefit from it.


Senator Grassley mentioned religion.  They should read their Bibles:

Matthew 22:36-40

New International Version (NIV)

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
2. Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18

It deeply saddens, distresses and appalls me that our elected officials readily admit that they do not feel that gay and lesbian people are deserving of equal rights.  We are Americans.  We are citizens of the United States of America.  We are people.  We are not low life, scum sucking, free loading people looking for a hand out.  We are productive citizens of the greatest country in the world.  We should be treated with the same respect as our straight counterparts.  "...with Liberty and Justice for ALL"

It is Against My Religion

Do people even REALLY know why they oppose Same Sex Marriage? Do they oppose it because it's what everyone is saying? Is it POLITICS? People's lives are hanging in the balance as they wait to be able to sponsor their foreign born spouse. We cannot afford for this to be about POLITICS. Is it because they think it is against God? To quote your Mom, "If all of your friends jumped off of a cliff...." To illustrate this point read the following true story:

Today at work, I was having lunch with some of my friends and it happened that the subject turned to same sex marriage. A Registered Nurse said, "I just don't believe in it, it's against my religion..."

I said to her, "what religion are you?" She replied, "I don't have any religion"

She then started swearing about her cold lunch. I wanted to say to her that her language was against my religion, but I didn't want to "go there". I did say to her, "How can it be against your religion if you don't have one?"

I then asked her what would she do if her son was gay. She said, "I would have to hit him in the head with a brick...I don't know what I would do..."

I am a Christian, I am a Lesbian. For those who do not understand how I can be both, I encourage you to please read my entire blog. It tells you of my faith, my research, my struggle and finally the peace that passes all understanding

I did a lot of soul searching. My blog entry The Bible Says, Homosexuality is a two month long deep research into the history of when these verses were written. I went to the original language. I studied what each nuance of the words meant. I looked at liberal interpretations. I looked at conservative interpretations. I studied secular history of the time. That blog entry is my research. I believe that it is unbiased and detailed study as to what the Bible says about Same Sex love.

The other day my sister's best friend made the following statement, and I quote. "Since I am not a Greek,Hebrew etc scholar I don't know and have trust my teachers who are wiser and more educated than I. I can't believe it at this time but I will be more than happy if I get to heaven and learn that you are right!"

This woman would blindly follow her Pastor when people's lives hang in the balance. While people are not being allowed the same rights as other people, these folks are content to listen. They are content to follow the status quo. I wonder if it were something that directly influenced their lives if they would be so passive? I wonder what kind of research they would do?

While people are content to believe their religion blindly, couples are separated due to DOMA. I urge you to read the book The Children Are Free. Do your own research on this most important subject that people are waging war on both sides of the issue.

I mean who really cares who is kissing who. Who really cares about who is marrying who. Can love be wrong? God is love. So since God is love, shouldn't we be for people who just want to be allowed to love and marry the person that they choose? There are so many other horrible things to be against, but love should not be one of them

How to Bypass Hospital Homophobia/Discrimination

DISCLAIMER: The following is not meant to be legal advice. It is only some friendly suggestions for those of us who live in the United States.

I am a lesbian. I also am a health care professional. I have been reading horrible stories of people not being able to be at their loved one's bedside while they are in the hospital. Even more horrific than that, not being notified of the death of their partner, not being able to hold their hand as they were lying there dying. I would like to offer the following advice for those of you who are in same sex relationships and fear this kind of prejudice at a hospital.

1. Become your partner's "Medical Power of Attorney". All that it says is that if your partner becomes too ill to make their own decisions, you have the right to make their decisions for them. Go through an attorney to get this done professionally and legally and make plenty of copies. Each and every time one of you gets put in the hospital, make sure that you give them a copy. Make sure each and every RN knows that you are indeed the "POA".

They will be legally obligated to allow you at your partner's bedside.

2. Do not make your relationship a secret. Kindly and respectfully ask your primary Doctor and the RN who is taking care of you or your loved one if they have a problem with your relationship. If they say yes, ask if you can get a different health care professional to take care of you. This is your right.

3. It is important that the two of you be included in any major decisions. I don't mean blood draws or a CT scan. I do mean surgery or surgical procedures. Make sure that the patient makes that absolutely clear to the Doctor and the Nursing Staff...especially the Nursing Staff.

4. If it is an emergent medical procedure, ex: a procedure to help the patient breathe easier like a thorencentesis. Let the RN know that you want your partner notified immediately that this procedure is going to take place. They will follow your lead. If you want your partner included, they will tend to include them.

5. If you have any sort of issue whatsoever, ask to speak to the House Supervisor. If you do not get satisfaction, ask to speak to the Patient Advocate. You are the patient and you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Your wishes need to be respected.

6. Do not approach the health care professionals with a "chip" on your shoulder. Don't be on the defensive, we are doing nothing wrong.

EX: I was taking care of a patient. I walked in and she and her wife were holding hands. She immediately let go of her hand and said, "We don't want to freak you out, everyone at this Catholic hospital is homophobic..." I replied with a smile, "Uh nope not everyone...." I later suggested that they not let go of holding hands and told them that I, too, am a lesbian. She apologized for being rather gruff with me. She said, "I just feel that I have to hid my relationship..." I cannot stress enough, let your relationship be known.

To summarize: Become your partner's Medical Power of Attorney. Don't make your relationship a secret. Show respect for the medical staff and don't be on the defensive. If you have any problems, report it to the Nursing Supervisor or the Patient Advocate. You deserve to be treated with respect also.

Feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

Christian Attorney says, "DOMA is Unconstitutional"

While people may say that they believe in "traditional" marriage (meaning between one man and one woman), they still cannot deny that the "Defense of Marriage Act" is Unconstitutional. The American Family Association's in-house attorney says that while he and many members of his organization believe that marriage should be reserved only for heterosexual adults, the Defense of Marriage Act is "probably unconstitutional."

Here is my question: Exactly what is traditional marriage? They say that it is between one man and one woman. This is a fairly new "tradition". In the Old Testament King Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines. Basically, what they mean when they say "traditional marriage" is marriage by what we believe to be Christian standards. Indeed, it seems that the tradition they are speaking of is quite nontraditional.

Most of the "traditions" we associate with marriage are in fact comparatively new. It was only two centuries ago that people began to marry for love rather than for mercenary or practical considerations. Only 130 years ago did men start to lose their legal right to physically beat or imprison their wives. And only in the past 40 years have we established the principle that within a marriage wives and husbands have equal rights in decision-making.

Not until 1979 did the last American state finally repeal its "Head and Master" law, which had given husbands the final say over many aspects of family life. Not until 1993 did marital rape become a crime in every state, overturning the millennia-old tradition that a wife was obligated to have sex with her husband whenever he demanded it.

'Traditional' marriage has changed a lot Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 23, 2006

By Stephanie Coontz

Stephanie Coontz teaches history and family studies at The Evergreen State College and is the author of "Marriage, A History: How Love Conquered Marriage" (Viking Penguin).

So what are they fighting for??? A law that is unconstitutional and defends marriage that is nontraditional. Their reasons? They believe it is the Christian thing to do.

I do not want to take away their Christianity. I am a Christian. All I want to be able to do is marry my same sex partner and have it respected and recognized by the government both State and Federal.

The Last Night - Video

This is a video made by Inger and Philippa on their last night together before Philippa had to return to the United Kingdom. The sound is rough because they had a fan running in the background and sound perfection was not what was on their mind I assure you. I have shared their story twice in two different stories on this blog because these two ladies inspire me with their love, faith, courage, and their tenacity to get things changed.

A Love Story

I Am My Beloved's and My Beloved is Mine

Under the video is the transcript of what Inger is saying. I hope you will take the time to watch the video and try the understand the pain they are going through as they speak from the heart.

Inger speaking:

Hi everyone, this is Inger and Philippa here, and we said we'd make a video and so we are. It is the last full night we will spend together for god knows how long and I for one am not coping. I don't want this. I need everybody out there to realize that this is wrong. You all need to vote, talk to your congress people, your senators. I'm not going to give you a sermon, but it is so hard to know, that...uh...the life we share together is on the whim of a government that doesn't even know we exist.

Philippa had difficulty coming in through immigration and the U. S. border control, she was interviewed twice and got her documents taken off her which means that after waiting six and one half months the likelihood of her coming in in the next year seems pretty slim, unless there are some changes made.

We've had a good three weeks, it's been really wistful, but we've had some great times, a lot of smiles but now we are down to the wire she's going to leave tomorrow evening and my heart's breaking. I don't want to keep doing this.... but I will. I'll wait as long as I have to to be with my family. But...for those of you who are with the ones you love...treasure every minute you have. And for those of you in our same situation, contact me. We have to figure out a way to change things...this can't keep happening.

If you are in a bi-national couple, it's worth it. It's hard, God I know it's hard, living on phone calls and living on web cam and living on letters and packages, planning the occasional trip, it's difficult, but it beats a half life of living alone or settling for something other than true love. That's my sermon.

Hi Jo! I was promised..I promised that, uh, I'd say that.

(to Philippa) Anything you wanna say? Talk to the nice people (Philippa shakes her head no and continues crying) (Inger cont) We love all of you and we are so grateful for your support, and uh, we'd be in much worse shape if we didn't have....(turning to Philippa) I love you so much...(Philippa replies, "I love you") (facing forward) and I don't ever want to be without her. (crying)

We need to change the world and we can't do it alone, I can't do it alone, but I'm going to do everything I can. And if any of you know how to contact the people at Logos and get them interested so we can get the word out contact me on face book, on email, I'll give you my phone number, I don't care...SOMEBODY has to make a big deal out of this...people have to know!

I spent two days at Pride talking to hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people and ... I would say seventy- five percent of them had no idea, and there were a few bi-national couples who I met who were either they couldn't make it, they couldn't last because it's so hard...or...they've gone the other way and are just flying under the wire and I don't want to do either of those things. I want to do it right. I want to have this woman by my side, show the world that I love her...(dog whining in background) And our pug (turning away) (laughs) wants you to know that he loves his mommy and he wants her to stay with us (Oscar the pug barks in agreement) and it's just not right. (Oscar continues to whine and Philippa and Inger turn away and back again and laugh) (Inger sniffling)

We haven't been moping the whole time but this is to be expected and so we are doing this tonight because I will be moderately hysterical tomorrow (fake smile) and uh...(dog barking) not be able to explain what I'm feeling. It's this tight wad of anger and sadness that I'm feeling .... (breathes big sigh) I don't know what to do...so...anyone out there who can figure it out and help me out ...help us out...I'd truly appreciate it. (turning to Philippa) I get it all? (Philippa nods) (turns back to the cam) We love all of you ...and we're glad to have you in our lives (crying) I don't know what to tell you but thank you for everything (shakes head) we're gonna ask for more so you might as well help us so we'll shut up. (voice breaking) Take care, all of you. Night. (cries and can't continue)

Love Forbidden

Love Forbidden

I am so honored to include in my blog the following story of two women who want nothing more than to be able to be with each other, support each other, love each other, and hold each other.  They have asked to remain as anonymous as possible, and I will respect that.  Thank you for allowing me to include your story in my blog.  I am humbled, honored, and grateful.

Note: UAFA = Uniting American Families Act

DOMA = Defense of Marriage Act

 

 

I first met CJ online through some mutual friends on Twitter and very quickly found myself interested in knowing more about her. Just from Twitter conversations I could see that she was intelligent, funny, and very passionate about the things that are important to her. One day CJ asked me to join her and a couple of others on a Skype call. The first time I heard her voice I melted and now, after a year, it still has that same effect on me. We grew closer and soon we were talking through Skype on our cell phones at least three times a day; morning, noon and night. We found that we are alike in many ways, enjoy most of the same things, yet we are different in ways that complement each other. 

She flew to North Carolina from the UK to visit for the first time last August. It was after that visit that I knew without a doubt that she is the woman of my dreams. When we are together, everything feels so right. When we are apart, it is quite honestly very painful. I suffer from migraines and when CJ isn’t here, I get them weekly; sometimes twice a week. When we are together I rarely get one. Every day that we are apart feels like a day wasted; a day that I should have been able to spend with the one I love; a day that I can’t get back. 

Right now we should be happy. We shouldn't be sad and hurt from being forced to live apart. We shouldn't be worrying about how and when we can be together. For as long as I can remember I've had this image in my mind of the perfect woman for me. I had given up hope that she existed. But she does, and we finally found each other. Problem is, she’s not a US citizen and the US government doesn’t recognize our relationship. I may be forced to choose between my family and a good job I’ve held for 21 years or the love of my life.

 

T and I met online. At the start of 2010 we were both going through very difficult relationship breakups. We began Skyping and soon became to rely on each other for support. We felt like soul mates from the start. We just clicked. I think I realized about a month or so into our friendship that I was falling in love with her.

Early last spring, we had planned for me to go over to the US in November for a month. But by May, November seemed so far away that we brought it forward to August. I spent a little over four weeks in NC and during that time I knew I was in love and never wanted to leave her. But I had to. There were nights while she slept I would lay awake crying. Being there, with her, felt so right, so perfect. The parting at the airport is the most unbearable heartache, like someone is standing on you and trying to crush your chest. I blame the US officials who have passed laws that suppress our freedom to love.

I went back out for three weeks over Christmas and New Year and T is planning on coming to the UK in April for two weeks. That was going to be the next time we saw each other. Then I was in a cycling accident in February and had to take time off work. I was hurting, and I just needed to be with my girl so I flew out for a week and a half. Everything was fine except the interrogation by immigration because I'd only left the US seven weeks earlier. I wanted to scream at her, “I'm in pain. I just want to be with my partner. Is that too much to ask?” but I couldn't. Why do we have to feel like criminals just because we are in love with a US citizen? This is what the US government is doing. It’s punishing it's own citizens for having fallen in love with someone from another country. It is a clear case of the government saying who its citizens can and cannot love.

T is the most loving, caring, kind hearted, generous person I have ever met. She makes me feel invincible. If I'm stressed, angry or upset, just talking to her calms me down and puts me back in my happy place. This relationship should not have to be lived primarily over Skype. I get stressed if I have to go a whole work day, for whatever reason, without hearing her voice. I miss her so, so much. We should be able to wake up together and help each other start the day, which in turn would make for a more productive workforce. I want to be there in the evening of the day for each other, to moan about the crap life throws at us, and to enjoy the good times. I want to be supportive in the build up to job interviews and celebrate promotions and to be together at such times when extended family needs us. It hurts to know that many couples take having a beer on the deck in the yard on a Friday night or arguing about what to watch on TV for granted. We do not even have those “luxuries”. To be separated by law is a crime, pure and simple.

T could move over here (UK), and I could sponsor her without any problems. However; unlike me, she has an elderly mother and very close family ties. How could I ask her to leave? That is not an option. We may relocate to Canada where it would be closer for her to fly to NC on a regular basis. That would be another loss to the US. She's a highly skilled IT worker. How many skilled workers does the US want to lose? Until UAFA is passed or DOMA repealed, it seems like the officials don't care. As for me, I have a Masters degree, am self employed and have no criminal record.

 
I know our relationship is less than a year old and some people have suffered this injustice for much longer. I hope that it really is the dawn of a new era and that all loving couples can be together. I am certain there is only one woman with whom I want to spend the rest of my life, but she is 4,000 miles away in one of the most powerful, but frustrating, democracies in the world. Don't let it become the most backward looking. Please, repeal DOMA or at least pass UAFA in the meantime.

Respect for Marriage Act

What does this mean for bi-national same sex couples? Currently, it means nothing because these bills are now in committee. Unless, we can get them out of committee and back to the floor of Congress to be voted on, they will be buried in the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

More than ever before, we need to contact our Congress members and let them know that either we need the Respect for Marriage Act passed or we need the Uniting American Families Act passed. We need to get this done. As you probably know, if you are reading my blog, Same sex bi-national couples are a minority of a minority. We need to speak up and we need to be heard. If you have not yet contacted your Congress members, you need to do so, please.

Below is the introduction of the bill into the Senate taken from Dianne Fienstien's page.

The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal DOMA and restore the rights of all lawfully married couples – including tens of thousands of same-sex couples – to receive the benefits of marriage under federal law.

Under current law, legally married, same-sex couples cannot take advantage of federal protections available to every other married couple in this country. These couples cannot:

File joint federal income taxes and claim certain deductions;

Receive spousal benefits under Social Security;

Take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act when a loved one falls seriously ill;

Obtain the protections of the estate tax when one spouse passes and wants to leave his or her possessions to another.

“There are tens of thousands of legally married same-sex couples in the United States, and more than 18,000 in my home state of California alone,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein. “These couples live their lives like all married people; they share the bills, they raise children together, and they care for each other in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, until death do they part. But because of DOMA, they have been denied federal protections. It is time to right this wrong. This bill will ensure that all married couples in the United States enjoy equal protection of our laws.”

“The time has come for the federal government to recognize that every American family deserves all of the legal protections afforded to couples who are married under state law,” said Senator Patrick Leahy. “I am proud to say that Vermont has led the nation in marriage equality. I do not want Vermonters, or people in any other state where same-sex marriage is recognized, to be harmed by the continuing effect of DOMA. This is a question of basic civil rights.”

“Every loving, committed couple deserves the basic human right to get married, start a family, and have access to all the same rights and privileges that my husband and I enjoy,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said. “I look forward to the day when all states accept this basic principle of fairness. I will work with my Senate colleagues to end the discrimination currently enshrined into US law and make marriage equality a reality for all.”

Senator Barbara Boxer said, “The Defense of Marriage Act has nothing to do with defending marriage - all it does is discriminate against millions of Americans by denying them equal treatment under the law. It is long past time that we repealed this unjust law and started treating all our families with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

“Repealing DOMA is imperative to basic rights for our families, friends, and neighbors. DOMA is an unjust, discriminatory law that denies millions of Americans full federal benefits and protections,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal.

“As residents of states across our country gain marriage equality without regard to sexual orientation, our federal government continues to treat their marriages as invalid. It’s long past time we end federal discrimination against state-recognized marriages between same-sex couples,” said Senator Chris Coons. “Passing the Respect for Marriage Act now – in this Congress – respects states' rights, respects civil rights, and for the first time allows same-sex couples to experience true marriage equality in states that recognize it.”

“I’m proud to stand with Senator Feinstein, Members of the Senate and families around the country as we fight to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act,” Senator Dick Durbin said. “This law discriminates against loving families in every state in the union and it’s long past time we correct the mistake Congress made by passing this law more than a decade ago. I hope my colleagues join us as we fight to ensure all families are not only treated fairly but with dignity and respect.”

“DOMA was wrong and unconstitutional when I voted against it fifteen years ago, in 1996, and it’s equally wrong and unconstitutional today. This discriminatory law treats loving, committed same-sex couples like second-class citizens by denying them thousands of federal benefits. It’s overdue for Congress to ease the pain that Congress caused in the first place,” Senator John Kerry said. “America has undergone a transformation on these issues since 1996, and the law should reflect the reality of where we are now as a country. We need to put an end to this discrimination by putting an end to the Defense of Marriage Act.”

“Equality under the law is a bedrock American principle,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “It is long past time to end this destructive law that says one class of Americans is not deserving of the same rights as others. From the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage, from tearing down ‘No Irish Need Apply’ signs to the ADA, our history has been marked by efforts to live up to our Constitution’s ideals of equality. This bill is a critical step in that journey.”

“I am proud to stand with so many of my colleagues as we fight to end this fourteen-year-old policy and make sure all married couples are treated equally in the eyes of the federal government,” said Senator Patty Murray. “I strongly supported President Obama’s decision to stop defending DOMA in court. And now it’s time that we take another step forward and fully repeal this law.”

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said, “DOMA is a hurtful and unjust law that should be repealed. For thousands of hardworking citizens like Pat Baker, a Rhode Islander who is battling not only lung cancer, but a system that denies her the right to pass her survivor benefits to her wife, it is time for this policy to end.”

“For far too long, Minnesota’s same-sex couples have lived without many of the basic rights afforded to opposite-sex married couples,” said Senator Al Franken. “The Defense of Marriage Act is discriminatory and unconstitutional, and it’s important that we repeal it.”

“As I have long said, if you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get one,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “I believe Americans are going to look back at the Defense of Marriage Act with universal embarrassment as every day that we deny citizens equal rights in this country is a day that diminishes all Americans. I’m proud to be part of an effort that puts this Congress on the right side of history.”

Senator Frank Lautenberg said, “The Defense of Marriage Act has become indefensible and must be repealed. The Respect for Marriage Act would get rid of this outdated law and allow all couples to receive the same benefits and protections from the federal government when they marry.”

Joining Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are co-sponsors: Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).