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S. Hrg. 104-533
THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
HEAKING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
S. 1740
A BILL TO DEFINE AND PROTECT THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE
JULY 11, 1996
CO"
.A5
D365
1996
Serial No. J-104-90
Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary
f'T
fiEPQSilORY
HAMPDEN LAW LIBRARY
L3CC
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1996
For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office
Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, Washington, DC 20402
ISBN 0-16-052993-X
yV'jf^^
w^4
S. Hrg. 104-533
THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
S. 1740
A BILL TO DEFINE AND PROTECT THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE
JULY 11, 1996
Serial No. J-104-90
Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary
GOVT.
BEPOSITORY
HAMPDEN LAW LIBRARY
KF
rr\n
D365
1996
13 CC
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1996
For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office
Superintendent of Documents. Congressional Sales Office, Washington, DC 20402
ISBN 0-16-052993-X
STROM THUK
ALAN K. SIMP
CHARLES E. C
ARLEN SPECT
HANKBROA^^
FRED THOMP!
JON KYL, Ariz
MIKE DeWINE
SPENCER ABB
KF 507 .A5 D365 1996
United States. Congress.
Senate. Conrrdttee on the
The Defense of Marriage Act
DATE DUE
J^ 507 .A5 D365 1996
United States. Congress.
Senate. Cantmittee on the
The Defense of Marriage Act
DATE
^
ISSUED TO
^(^^^7.Cai,.'^)^or
setts
WITHDRAWN
HAMPDEN lAWjfi&iRAfeY
50 State St, P.O. Box 559
Springfield, MA 01102-0559
(413) 748-7923
DEMCO
CONTENTS
STATEME>rrS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Page
Hatch, Hon. Orrin G., U.S. Senator from the State of Utah 1
Kennedy, Hon. Edward M., U.S. Senator from the State of Massachusetts 3
Simon, Hon. Paul, U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois 10
Feinstein, Hon. Dianne, U.S. Senator from the State of California 12
Feingold, Hon. Russell D., U.S. Senator from the State of Wisconsin 14
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WITNESSES
Hon. Don Nickles, U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma 4
Panel consisting of Gary L. Bauer, president, Family Research Council, Wash-
ington, DC; Lynn D. Wardle, professor of law, Brigham Young University,
Provo, UT; Cass R. Sunstein, Karl N. Llewellyn Professor of Jurisprudence,
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Mitzi Henderson, national president.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Menlo Park, CA;
and David Zwiebel, general counsel and director of government affairs,
Agudath Israel of America, New York, NY 19
ALPHABETICAL LIST AND MATERIAL SUBMITTED
Bauer, Gary L.:
Testimony 1^
Prepared statement 22
Hatch, Hon. Orrin G.:
Letter from Andrew Fois, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department
of Justice, Washington, DC, July 9, 1996 2
Editorial by Prof Lavu-ence H. Tribe, from the New York Times, May
25, 1996: "Toward a Less Perfect Union" 55
Letter from Michael W. McConnell, William B. Graham Professor, Uni-
versity of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL, Jvily 10, 1996 56
Henderson, Mitzi:
Testimony 48
Prepared statement 49
Biography 51
Nickles, Hon. Don:
Testimony 4
Letters from Andrew Fois, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department
of Justice, Washington, DC, to:
The Honorable Henry J. Hyde, chairman, Committee on the Judici-
ary, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, May 14,
1996 6
The Honorable Charles T. Canady, chairman. Subcommittee on the
Constitution, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, May
29, 1996 6
Prepared statement 17
Sunstein, Cass R.:
Testimony 42
Prepared statement 43
Wardle, Lynn D.:
Testimony 23
Prepared statement 25
Zwiebel, David:
Testimony 51
Prepared statement 53
(HI)
IV
APPENDIX
Proposed Legislation „
rage
S. 1740, a bill to define and protect the institution of marriage 71
Additional SimmssiONS for the Record
Letters to Senator Orrin G. Hatch, chairman, Senate Committee on the
Judiciary, Washington, DC, from:
Laura W. Mvirphy, director, American Civil Liberties Union, Washington
National Office, Washington, DC, July 10, 1996 74
H. Alexander Robinson, legislative representative, American Civil lib-
erties Union, Washington National Office, Washington, DC, July 10,
1996 74
Prepared statement of the American Civil Liberties Union, submitted by
Lavu-a W. Murphy, director, Washington office; Matthew Coles, director,
Gay & Lesbian Rights Project; and H. Alexander Robinson, legislative rep-
resentative 75
THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1996
U.S. Senate,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:10 a.m., in room
SD-226, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Orrin G. Hatch,
chairman of the committee, presiding.
Also present: Senators Grassley, Kennedy, Simon, Feinstein, and
Feingold.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ORRIN G. HATCH, A U.S. SEN-
ATOR FROM THE STATE OF UTAH, CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE
ON THE JUDICIARY
The Chairman. Today, the committee is convened to take testi-
mony on the Defense of Marriage Act, which is sponsored by our
colleague, Senator Nickles.
The Defense of Marriage Act would accomplish two goals: first,
it would make clear that one State's definition of marriage need
not be accepted by other States; second, the Defense of Marriage
Act also would define the term "marriage" for purposes of Federal
law as meaning only the legal union between one man and one
woman as husband and wife. That definition would preclude any
court from construing Federal law as treating same-sex unions as
a "marriage."
In my view, this act is necessary, valuable, and it is a constitu-
tional piece of legislation. This particular bill responds to several
key questions.
First, is there a serious practical problem that Congress needs to
address? The answer is yes. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Hawaii,
by a 3-to-2 vote, held that a Hawaii State law ban on same-sex
marriages may violate the equal protection clause of the Hawaii
Constitution. The Hawaii Supreme Court remanded the case to the
trial court for further proceedings before issuing a final decision on
the matter. The trial court could issue a decision on remand later
this year. The result is that the Hawaii Supreme Court could rule
that Hawaii must recognize same-sex unions as marriages.
The effect of this ruling by the State of Hawaii would have rami-
fications throughout the United States. The full faith and credit
clause, article IV, section 1, of the U.S. Constitution provides that:
Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the public acts, records, and
judicial proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may bv general laws
prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved,
and the effect thereof
(1)
Thus, it would not be surprising that persons who want to invoke
the legitimacy of "marriage" for same-sex unions will travel to Ha-
waii to become "married." Then they will return to their home
States where it would be expected that the State recognize as valid
a Hawaii marriage certificate.
The second question before us todav is whether the act will solve
the problem before us; namely, whetner three members of the Ha-
waii Supreme Court can force other States to accept the Hawaii
Supreme Court decision, to alter radically the concept of marriage.
The answer again is yes. The Defense of Marriage Act ensures that
each State can define for itself the concept of marriage and not be
bound by decisions made by other States. The Defense of Marriage
Act also makes clear that no Federal law should be read to treat
a same-sex union as a "marriage."
The last question is whether this act is a legitimate exercise of
Congress' power. To me, the answer again is yes. But that is not
just my view. The Clinton administration also believes that the De-
fense of Marriage Act is legitimate and lawful.
In that regard, I would like to place in the record a letter from
Andrew Fois, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legisla-
tive Affairs. The letter states that the Clinton administration views
this legislation as constitutional. The letter also addresses the
House's identical version of this law, and the letter makes clear
that the administration continues to believe that both H.R. 3396
and S. 1740 would be sustained as constitutional if challenged in
court.
[The letter follows:]
U.S. Department of Justice,
Office of Legislative Affairs,
Washington, DC, July 9, 1996.
The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write in response to your letter of June 5, 1996, inviting
a r^resentative from the Department to testify at a hearing before the Committee
on S. 1740, the Defense of Marriage Act. Should a representative be unavailable to
testify at the hearing, you asked that we submit a written analysis of the Depart-
ment s views regarding the constitutionaUty of S. 1740 for the hearing record.
S. 1740 is identical to H.R. 3396 which was recently reported out of the House
Subcommittee on the Constitution. It contains two principal provisions. One would
essentially provide that no state would be required to give legal effect to a decision
by another state to treat as a marriage a relationship between persons of the same
sex. The other section would provide that for purposes of federal laws and regula-
tions, the term "marriage" includes only unions between one man and one woman
and that the term "spouse" refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a hus-
band or a wife.
The Department of Justice believes that the Defense of Marriage Act would be
sustained as constitutional if challenged in court, and that it does not raise any
legal issues that would make an appearance by a representative of the Department
helpful to the Committee. As stated by the President s spokesman Michael McCurnr
on Wednesday, May 22, the Supreme Covirt's ruling in Homer v. Evans does not af-
fect the Department's analysis (that the Defense of Marriage Act is constitutionally
sustainable), and the President "would sign the bill if it was presented to him as
currently written."
I respectfully request that this letter be submitted for the hearing record in Ueu
of oral testimony. Please feel free to contact this office if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
(Signed) Andrew Fois
(Typed) Andrew Fois,
Assistant Attorney General.
The Chairman. The full faith and credit clause vests in Congress
the power to decide "the Effect" of the "Acts, Records, and Proceed-
ings" that are law in each State. Congress can and, when nec-
essary, must ensure that no one State can dictate how every other
State must treat a subject. In sum, this act will solve each of the
problems that confront us today. Senate bill 1740 is a necessary
and reasonable exercise of the Constitution's express, textual grant
of authority, and it is designed to achieve the legitimate purposes
that I mentioned earlier.
So I do look forward to the testimony of our witnesses today, and
it should be a very interesting hearing.
We will turn to Senator Kennedy for any comments he has.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD M. KENNEDY, A U.S.
SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
Senator Kennedy. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I regret that the committee is spending time on this offensive,
unnecessary, and divisive legislation. The bill before us is called
the Defense of Marriage Act, but a more accurate title would be the
Defense of Intolerance Act — or, even more accurately, the Defense
of Endangered Republican Candidates Act.
Many of us believe that the final weeks of this Congress should
be spent responding to the real needs of the American people on
jobs, on health care, on education, campaign finance reform, immi-
gration, and other pressing issues instead of trying to override
State laws on marriage. I assume that Bob Dole's copy of the tenth
amendment has a new hole in it.
It is no secret that I oppose this legislation. As I have said, I re-
gard it as a thinly disguised example of intolerance. But regardless
of anyone's views on same-sex marriage, this bill is a flatly uncon-
stitutional exercise of congressional authority.
Harvard Professor Larry Tribe, for example, one of the most re-
spected authorities in the Nation on the Constitution, has con-
cluded that the bill is clearly unconstitutional because the full faith
and credit clause does not empower the Congress to nullify the ef-
fect of a State court's laws in other States.
Proponents of this defective bill claim to be concerned about the
possibility that the State of Hawaii will legalize same-sex marriage
and that the other 49 States will be forced to recognize Hawaiian
marriages.
That is not true. As Prof. Cass Sunstein will testify today, States
are not required to recognize marriages in other States contrary to
their own public policy. So this Federal bill is not only unconstitu-
tional, it is wholly unnecessary. The Constitution entrusted this
matter to the States. States have the authority to recognize or not
recognize sister-State marriages, and it is a dangerous and unprec-
edented assertion of Federal authority for Congress to even at-
tempt to negate State court judgments.
What is left of this bill is its real goal— it is a mean-spirited form
of legislative gay-bashing designed to inflame the public 4 months
before the November election.
It is designed to divide Americans, to drive a wedge between
some citizens and others, solely for partisan advantage.
But some good can still come out of this bad bill. If our Repub-
licans colleagues insist on bringing it up before the Senate, then
Senator Jeffords, Senator Lieberman, I, and others intend to offer
our Employment Non-Discrimination Act as an amendment to this
bill in order to prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orienta-
tion.
As the Labor Committee learned in a 1994 hearing, large num-
bers of Americans are denied emplo5rment or suffer abuse on the
job because of their sexual orientation. They deserve the same pro-
tection against discrimination on the job that all other Americans
have — the opportunity to work, and to do so without fear of
threats, violence, or other displays of bigotry. They deserve to be
paid the same wages as their colleagues and promoted when a pro-
motion is deserved. In other words, they should be treated fairly
in the workplace.
Our Employment Non-Discrimination Act has broad public sup-
port and broad support across the political spectrum. It has the
support of Coretta Scott King, of Senator Barry Goldwater, of Gov-
ernor Christine Todd Whitman. It has the support of a broad-based
religious coalition and businesses across the country. Similar anti-
discrimination laws have already been enacted by nine States and
166 cities and counties to ensure that gay and lesbian Americans
can bring their talents and skills to the workplace without fear of
discrimination, and it is time to end that kind of prejudice in
America once and for all.
I look forward to the testimony of the witnesses before us.
The Chairman. I appreciate those comments. I have to say that
I don't agree with Senator Kennedy's assertion that both the Presi-
dent and Senator Dole are intolerant in supporting this bill. I think
both are known for exceptional tolerance, and frankly, we can differ
on the subject matter of the bill. But it is an important bill, and
it is one that I believe to be constitutional.
Senator Nickles, we will turn to you.
STATEMENT OF HON. DON NICKLES, A U.S. SENATOR FROM
THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Senator NiCKLES. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much, and Sen-
ators Kennedy and Simon. I appreciate the opportunity to be with
you, and. Senator Kennedy, I am disappointed that you are not a
cosponsor and I guess won't be cosponsoring this legislation, be-
cause this legislation does have bipartisan support. President Clin-
ton has indicated that he would support it. I don't see him as
mean-spirited or intolerant.
I happen to be a sponsor of this legislation, and I don't consider
myself mean-spirited or intolerant. And I am somewhat offended by
that language.
This bill is really very simple, and Senator Hatch explained it,
and I will try not to be redundant. And I will ask, Mr. Chairman,
that my statement be inserted in the record.
The Chairman. Without objection, we will put the full statement
in the record.
Senator Nickles. This bill is not intolerant when it says we de-
fine marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman
as husband and wife." I was raised to think that was common
knowledge. Some people want to change that. Maybe a court wants
to change it; maybe some politicians want to change it. Maybe
some activist groups want to change it. But to define marriage as
"a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and
wife" I don't think is mean-spirited, I don't think is intolerant.
The act also defines spouse as "a person of the opposite sex who
is a husband or a wife." These definitions apply only to Federal
law. We are not overriding any State law. We are not banning gay
marriages. Anybody that puts that characterization on this legisla-
tion is wrong. What we are saying is that if a State passes recogni-
tion of gay marriages or same-sex marriages, that other States do
not have to recognize that marriage. They are free to recognize that
marriage if they so choose, but they don't have to.
Now, there is nothing intolerant about that. There is nothing
mean-spirited about that whatsoever. It does say that if a court de-
cision in Hawaii which is expected some time this fall, if there is
a 3-2 decision that recognizes same-sex marriages, other States
don't have to recognize such a marriage. They have the option to
choose to recognize it, if they so desire, or not to recognize it. There
is nothing mean-spirited about that in any way, shape, or form.
This act also deals with Federal benefits. We define "marriage"
and "spouse." Those terms are mentioned numerous times through-
out the Federal code but they are not defined in the Federal code.
Well, they need to be defined, and they should be defined. We are
talking about a lot of benefits. You are talking about survivors'
benefits, whether you are talking about veterans or Social Security,
disability, and so on. And so they should be defined.
Again, we define spouse as a person of the opposite sex. Most
people think of spouse as a person of the opposite sex who happens
to be a husband or wife. Again, I don't find this definition mean-
spirited in any way, shape, or form.
I remember when we passed the family medical leave bill, we put
in language, I might mention, which was adopted unanimously in
the Senate. It was my language that defined, for the purposes of
this bill, what a spouse would be. That turned out to be important
language, we find out, because a lot of people tried to petition the
Labor Department to expand the definition beyond the intent of
Congress. Those petitions sought to have that term defined as a
partner, not necessarily the same sex, but people wanted to have
partners, unmarried partners, receive benefits under the Family
Medical Leave Act. Well, under the bill we defined it as married
partners of the opposite sex, and again, I think that was important.
So we do two things in this legislation: one, we define marriage
and we define spouse for the purpose of Federal benefits, and then
we say that States do not have to recognize marriages of the same
sex recognized in other States. They are free to do so. They have
the option to do so. So, Senator Kennedy, again, I take a little issue
with the terminology that you use. I don't think that is helpful.
I think this is important legislation. Is it needed? Yes. There is
going to be a court decision. Is it constitutional? Yes, it is. Senator
Hatch, you mentioned one of the letters by the Assistant Attorney
General. I have two by the Assistant Attorney General. I am not
sure which one you entered in the record, but I have one dated
May 14 and one May 29, so I will ask that the other one be in-
serted in the record.
The Chairman. Without objection. In fact, why don't you put
both of them in? This one is dated July 9.
Senator Nickles. OK.
The Chairman. So we have plenty of Justice Department intoler-
ance here as well, I guess.
Senator NiCKLES. I will do that.
[The letters follow:]
U.S. Department of Justice,
Office of Legislative Affairs,
Washington. DC. May 14. 1996.
The Honorable Henry J. Hyde,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Attorney General has referred your letter of May 9,
1996, to this office for a response. We appreciate your inviting the Department to
send a representative to appear and testify on Wednesday, May 22, at a hearing
before the Subcommittee on the Constitution concerning H.R. 3396, the Defense or
Marriage Act. We understand that the date of the Hearing has now been moved for-
ward to May 15.
H.R. 3396 contains two principal provisions. One would essentially provide that
no state would be required to give legal effect to a decision by another state to treat
as a marriage a relationship oetween persons of the same sex. The other section
would essentially provide that for purposes of federal laws and regulations, the term
"marriage" includes only unions between one man and one woman and that the
term "spouse" refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.
The Department of Justice believes that H.R. 3396 would be sustained as con-
stitutional, and that there are no legal issues raised by H.R. 3396 that necessitate
an appearance by a representative of the Department.
Sincerely,
(Signed) Andrew Fois
(Typed) Andrew Fois,
Assistant Attorney General.
U.S. Department of Justice,
Office of Legislative Affairs,
Washington, DC, May 29, 1996.
The Honorable Charles T. Canady,
Chairman, Subcommittee on the Constitution,
Committee on the Judiciary,
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write in response to your letter of May 28, requesting up-
dated information regarding the Administration's analysis of the constitutionality of
H.R. 3396, the Defense of Marriage Act.
The Administration continues to believe that H.R. 3396 would be sustained as
constitutional if challenged in court, and that it does not raise any legal issues that
necessitate further comment by the Department. As stated by the President's
spokesman Michael McCurry on Wednesday, May 22, the Supreme Court's ruling
in Romer v. Evans does not affect the Department's analysis (that H.R. 3396 is con-
stitutionally sustainable), and the President "would sign the bill if it was presented
to him as currently written."
Please feel free to contact this office if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
(Signed) For Andrew Fois
(Typed) Andrew Fois,
Assistant Attorney General.
Senator Nickles. There are other reasons I think it is constitu-
tional. Senator Kennedy quoted Mr. Tribe saying he thought it
wasn't. He is entitled to his opinion. But I think the Attorney Gen-
eral and the Constitution — I read the Constitution, and under arti-
cle rV, clearly it is constitutional. I think it is important that we
not allow an unelected judge to be setting policy not only for the
Federal Grovemment in determining benefits and throughout the
Federal code, but also dictating to States that they would have to
recognize same-sex marriages when that is not the desire of most
States.
Mr. Chairman, again, I appreciate your entering my statement
in the record and for having this hearing today. I believe we will
have bipartisan support for this legislation. I believe it will pass
the House of Representatives today. I believe we will pass it by an
overwhelming margin in the Senate, and I hope and expect that
the President will sign it.
The Chairman. Well, thank you. Senator Nickles. We appreciate
having you here today, and we appreciate your comments.
Are there any questions?
Senator Kennedy. Mr. Chairman, I am not suggesting that those
that have a different view than mine with regard to same-sex mar-
riages are intolerant. That is a position that is based upon strong
religious and moral views, and I understand it. But the fact of the
matter is the majority sets the agenda. Senator, and we all know
what is going on around here — so do the American people — to be
asked to deal with this issue just a few months before a national
political campaign, when this will not go back to the courts until
September, open to additional motions after that, and will be ap-
pealed up through the circuit courts and the Supreme Court of Ha-
waii.
We all know what is going on around here. The question is tim-
ing. Basically we are meeting over here. You are going to bring this
up on the floor of the U.S. Senate. You are basically saying that
this is an issue which is more burning, more important, and which
appeals to the division in America, discrimination. It has been the
heart and soul of this country to try and overcome it.
And there isn't anyone that doesn't understand that in America,
and we only have to look at what has happened in this country in
the period of recent weeks. And to drop this right out in terms of
the national agenda and to say that this is somehow the most com-
pelling issue that has to be done and to appeal to the darker side
of human nature is intolerance. It is intolerance. And I don't step
back one step from that.
Clearly I am not suggesting that those that support it and have
a differing view from mine are intolerant. But the idea that we are
bringing this up with 17, 18 days more to go, when we have judges
that have not been approved by this committee that have been on
the docket for months, when people are waiting to get the increase
in the minimum wage, waiting to try and do something about cam-
paign finance reform, waiting on all of these other kinds of mat-
ters, to say that we are going to drop this right out there in the
American agenda and leave it out there for comments about it, I
believe is intolerant.
I don't step back, retreat one step on that. Senator. We could
have brought this up a number of months ago. This is being set as
a matter of priority, as one of the final matters of hearings that
8
we are going to have on this committee, and I stand by the posi-
tion.
The Chairman. Well, let me
Senator Kennedy. Let me, if I can. Senator — it is my time now.
The Chairman. Sure.
Senator Kennedy. Let me ask you, do you support remedying the
discrimination in the job place for those that are discriminated
against solely on the basis of being gay or lesbian?
Senator NiCKLES. I don't support your legislation. I have to find
out
Senator Kennedy. Let me just ask you-
Senator NiCKLES [continuing]. Do you think I am intolerant by
pushing this legislation-
Senator Kennedy. Let me just ask you
The Chairman. Let him answer.
Senator NiCKLES. Well, just a minute. You accused me of being
intolerant
Senator Kennedy. I didn't.
Senator NiCKLES [continuing]. And I am offended by that lan-
guage. You accused Senator Dole of being intolerant, and I guess
President Clinton of being intolerant, and that is offensive. And I
would like to have that clarified before we get into your amend-
ments which are intended to sidetrack or kill the legislation. You
have that right to do so. But, first, I think it is a personal matter
if the Senator accuses another Senator of being intolerant. I think
we need to have that clarified very quickly.
Senator Kennedy. I have said it, Senator, at the beginning, that
there are strongly held religious, ethical, moral beliefs that are dif-
ferent from mine with regards to the issue of same-sex marriage
which I respect and which are no indications of intolerance. I have
said that, Senator. I respect those.
The Chairman. Let's assume that people are-
Senator Kennedy. Just a minute. Senator. I am entitled
The Chairman [continuing]. Let's assume people are
Senator Kennedy. Can I ask for regular order on this? The Sen-
ator asked me, and I am entitled, as a member of this body, to be
able to have an exchange with a witness here. And I am not going
to be interrupted on this issue.
The Chairman. We are
Senator Kennedy. I am not going to be interrupted on the issue.
But what I am saying is the fact that we are calling this up now
and putting this on the national agenda as a matter of priority by
Republican leadership, everyone understands what is going on
here. Everyone understands what is happening here. Everyone
ought to have a good appreciation here on an issue that will be as
divisive, as emotional, in terms of the American public on this. I
think it appeals to the darker side, and I think that appeals to in-
tolerance. I draw the distinction between individuals and the tim-
ing on this particular measure.
I would like to get an answer from you, whether you are going
to support
Senator Nickles. No, I am not going to support your amend-
ment.
Senator Kennedy. So you are not going to support legislation to
remedy discrimination against workers in the workplace whose
only problem is being gay or lesbian and that are being discrimi-
nated against today, thousands are being thrown out of work today.
Today it is happening, and you are not prepared to support any
kind of amendment to try and deal with that form of discrimination
in the workplace?
Senator Nickles. No, Senator Kennedy, I don't want to support
legislation that is going to tell the Boy Scouts that they have to
change their , t^ o t
Senator Kennedy. I am not asking about the Boy Scouts. 1 am
just talking about employment.
Senator Nickles. No, I am talking about employment. Boy
Scouts employ leaders, and right now they have a policy that they
don't have gay advocates or leaders as employees. You want to
change that. I don't want to change that. That would be the impact
of your amendment. I am going to fight for the Boy Scouts. I am
going to aggressively oppose your amendment. You have a right to
offer your amendment. I have a right to oppose your amendment.
That is not what we are having the hearing on today.
I do want to talk about timing just for a second. What was the
genesis of considering this legislation during this Congress? Well,
it wasn't advocated by Don Nickles or by the House leadership. It
was advocated because the Supreme Court in Hawaii is getting
ready to make a decision that could impact and change laws as far
as recognition of same-sex marriages throughout the Nation. We
need to clarify what the definition of marriage is and what the defi-
nition of spouse is. It is impacted when I see White House liaison
Marsha Scott, who is Clinton's liaison to the homosexual activists,
saying in Boston that she told a homosexual group we need to find
ways to ensure that those of you in loving, long-term-committed re-
lationships can enjoy all the benefits that heterosexual couples are
entitled to under the law.
So there is a group, there is an activist group that wants to rede-
fine marriage. Some of us want to protect marriage, defend mar-
riage. That is the purpose for this.
I will mention one other thing as far as timing is concerned be-
cause this came out in the New York Times recently, on March 25.
It talked about same-sex couples being recognized for marriage —
the headline reads: "Virtual marriages for same-sex couples in San
Francisco." I guess there were nearly 200 couples at a domestic
partnership ceremony. Well, I hope that we don't have a decision
in Hawaii this fall that requires other States to recognize same-sex
marriages. That decision is going forward. I think it is important
for us to move. We have the constitutional right. We have the sup-
port of the President. You have the right to try to add an amend-
ment if you wish. That would be a killer amendment. That is your
right to do that, certainly, and you can try to do it, and we will
have to find out where the votes are. But I think it is important
to move forward with this legislation.
I didn't instigate the Hawaii decision. I didn't file the petition be-
fore the court in Hawaii. I wasn't the President's liaison to the ho-
mosexual activists that is talking about gay marriages—or same-
sex marriages. So the timing of this was really brought about by
10
the Hawaiian decision and by several activists that want to have
same-sex marriages recognized throughout the country.
The Chairman. Well, any other questions?
Senator Kennedy. Yes, just a final comment, and I will take just
30 seconds. As I understand the timing, so we all understand it,
in May of 1993 the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled the denial of civil
marriage licenses to same-sex couples presumptively violates State
constitutional guarantees of equal protection. The court did not
change the law or the licenses, but instead returned the case to the
lower court to give State attorneys an opportunity either to show
a compelling interest or to stop discriminating.
The trial court is now scheduled for September 1996. Following
a trial of a few weeks, there will be further briefings, motions, and
then the court will issue a ruling, probably the end of 1996. The
lower court decision will then be appealed to the State Supreme
Court. Briefing will begin all over again. Oral arguments will prob-
ably be scheduled for the fall of 1997 with a final decision expected
in the spring of 1998, 2 years from now.
Now, if you have a different timing, I would hope you would put
it in the record.
Senator Nickles. Well, I think that
Senator Kennedy. Here we are 4 months before the Presidential
election, and there isn't a person in this country that doesn't under-
stand the difficulties that this Nation has had in terms of any
forms of tolerance and bigotry and discrimination, and I do not be-
lieve that the timing in bringing this up at this particular time
serves the interests of better debate and discussion on the major
issues of the country.
The Chairman. Senator Simon?
STATEMENT OF HON. PAUL SIMON, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF n^LINOIS
Senator SiMON. Yes, just a few observations.
Number one, we are not dealing with an immediate problem.
Senator Kennedy has just pointed out what the situation is
Senator Nickles. Could I interject something on timing? Because
it was Senator Kennedy's last comment. I want to say I agreed
with all the timing schedule history, 1993 through September. But
in September there is going to be a court decision on this matter.
If that court decides to legalize same-sex marriages, the other
States may be obligated to do the same. Now, it may be contested
and tied up in court for a year or more, but you may well have
States and the Federal Government being coerced or forced by
court decision to recognize same-sex marriages. This is because
they have the practice of recognizing State marriage law. A State
court decision in this matter will, at best, create ambiguity, but its
effect could be immediate.
Senator Simon. I want to add 2 minutes on to my time there
since you were responding to Senator Kennedys question.
The Chairman. Yes, start it over again.
Senator Simon. I think the reality is
The Chairman. And let's get through it.
Senator Simon [continuing]. There is not an immediate problem.
Just assuming even the schedule that Senator Kennedy mentioned
11
is followed, there are going to be appeals. This thing is going to
drag out for a long time. Not a single State legislative body has
passed any legislation along this line.
I do believe also that Senator Kennedy is correct when he calls
this legislation divisive. I don't question motives of people, but I
don't think there is any question we have a problem in our society
today. Senator Hatch, to his credit, has sponsored, became the chief
sponsor of extending the hate crimes statistics measure, which I in-
troduced some years ago. The hate crime statistics that have been
collected so far by the FBI show that numerically the single great-
est violence against any group because of being a group is against
African Americans. But numerically the greatest crimes proportion-
ately are against people who are gay.
We have a problem. And does this legislation help us to bring
this Nation together and understand problems? Or does it divide
us? And I have to come to the conclusion I think it divides us.
When you say you have the Attorney General's opinion — and I
am digressing for a moment here, but I have come to the conclu-
sion— -I am not going to have a voice in this because I will be leav-
ing the Senate. I have come to the conclusion that we ought to ap-
point Attorneys Greneral after a screening process for a period of 10
years, with careful bipartisan support, because you have police
powers there, FBI, and other things, but also so that when we get
an Attorney General's opinion it is, frankly, not a political opinion.
It is very hard for me to read the Constitution when it says "full
faith and credit shall be given in each State to the public acts,
records, and judicial proceedings of every other State" — that is very
clear, powerful language.
And then, finally, I would say to my friends in the gay commu-
nity, we do use the English language, and the word "marriage"
does, for the huge bulk of the population, mean men and women
marrjdng. I think that some other name or phrase or word is need-
ed. But we also have to be — and I know my friend from Oklahoma
well enough to know that I believe he would not want to see people
hurt who were born differently than you and I, who have a dif-
ferent genetic framework — when I was a boy, my father didn't say
to me, Paul, you have to be interested in girls. He had to give me
other kinds of warnings. But everyone was not bom as I was born.
Our genetic framework sometimes is different. And when people
are partners, same-sex partners, and one of them is dying and the
other one wants to visit that person in the hospital, I think we
ought to be able to let that person be visited in the hospital. And
then you get other, very practical questions that we have to face.
And so I think we have to approach this in a way that doesn't
divide, that doesn't add more hate to a society that already has too
much. Even with the antidiscriminative bill — assuming that Sen-
ator Kennedys amendment is adopted — and I am a cosponsor of
that legislation — even if that is adopted, I think this moves us in
the wrong direction. And I recognize the President said he is going
to sign it. I think this is not moving America where we ought to
move. We ought to be reaching out. We ought to be understanding,
including understanding people whose life styles are different than
ours.
Thank you, Mr, Chairman.
12
The Chairman. Senator Feinstein?
STATEMENT OF HON. DIANNE FEINSTEIN, A U.S. SENATOR
FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Senator Feinstein. Mr. Chairman, I came here with an open
mind to Usten, and I must say I am hearing a number of different
things.
First of all, I really have to question, along the lines Senator
Kennedy just mentioned, why this is necessary. Fifteen States, to
the best of my knowledge, have passed legislation that prohibits
the recognition of out-of-State same-sex marriages and/or limits
marriages to unions between men and women. These States in-
clude Maska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. California
law currently contains the equivalent of section 3 of DOMA, which
limits marriages to unions between men and women.
I have heard so much about returning power to the States and
returning power to local government — and marriage is very clearly
an area which has been left to the States — that it is hard for me
to understand why this is being done now. I think it is something
that the States can settle.
This morning I went to my fax, and my daughter had a little fax
for me. I want to read it because it is kind of interesting. They call
me "Ga-Ga."
Dear Ga-Ga: And, furthermore, if you are going to make marriage a Federal issue,
what about looking at those States that allow 14-year-olds to marrv versus States
in which sex with a 14-year-old is a felony? Where would you stop? Should you pro-
hibit the 19-year-old man from marrying the 75-year-old woman? Why not? They
£U*e not marrying for purposes of child-rearing. Doesn't the Federal Government
have better things to do than attempt to regulate quasi-moral issues like marriage,
when we have a horrible health care system, overcrowded jails and prisons, a lack
of mental health services, and a decaying infrastructure? Let's be clear on our prior-
ities here. Your loving daughter, Katherine.
[Laughter.]
I think she's got a point. And, you know, I have some gang legis-
lation that I would sure like to get through this committee, some
methamphetamine legislation I would sure like to get out. It is a
real crisis. Senator Kyi and I just testified before Mr. Hyde in the
House committee on our crimes victims constitutional rights
amendment which we would like to move. And here we are.
I must say. Senator Nickles, Senator Kennedy asked you the
question on employment, and you brought up the Boy Scouts. Pro-
hibition against discrimination in employment on the basis of sex-
ual orientation isn't really dealing with the Boy Scouts. It is deal-
ing with an everyday ability to make a living. The same thing with
housing. People are denied housing.
Let me ask you this question: Would you oppose legislation to
provide an antidiscrimination provision on the basis of sexual ori-
entation on housing?
Senator NiCKLES. That is not the legislation we are here for. I
would oppose it if— I guess I would have to rephrase the question,
but if you are saying if a person had 10 apartment complexes and
he or she had rented those out to — I'm going to say traditional fam-
ilies, and you had a couple of vacancies and you had two homo-
sexual couples come in with T-shirts that said, "I'm gay and proud
13
of it. Let's make love," would I want that person to be able to deny
renting those two units? Yes, I think they should have the right to
do that without the Federal Government saying, "no, if you don't,
you will be sued."
Senator Feinstein. Well, you see, I guess that is what happens
in this. I have heard this with respect to race. I have heard these
same arguments. People have a right to rent a home. They have
a right to hold a job, regardless of their race, creed, color, sex, or
sexual orientation, I believe. And it seems to me that that is some-
thing that we ought to look at in terms of providing people, across
the board, with the basic right to earn a living and to have a roof
over their head, because this is denied to people.
I have a hard time, if 15 States have passed legislation and if
family codes in various States like my own have already settled
this question, I have a hard time understanding why it is nec-
essary, particularly when you yourself believe States should have
more authority. Why are we taking this— why is it necessary for us
to do this?
Senator NiCKLES. Let me answer that, because it is necessary. If
you believe in States' rights, under our legislation no State would
be compelled to recognize or not recognize same-sex marriages. But
if you don't, you could have an unelected court by a conceivable 3-
to-2 decision in Hawaii in September basically require or coerce
every State in the Nation against their will to recognize same-sex
marriages.
Now, if the State wants to, under our legislation they can. We
don't make any decision whatsoever. And, Senator Simon, I need
to answer your comment, because you quoted the Constitution. But
you only quoted the first sentence of that. If you look at article IV,
section 1, you read the first part correctly, the full faith and credit
section. But the second part reads, "Congress may by general laws
prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings
shall be proved, and the effect thereof" That was put in for a pur-
pose.
And so. Senator Feinstein, I am a very strong — I want to make
sure. Senator Feinstein, I get your attention. Senator Feinstein? I
want to get your attention. I am very strong advocate and sup-
porter of the tenth amendment and all the other rights and powers
that are reserved to the States and to the people. We are trying
to protect States' rights. What we don't want to have is an
unelected court dictate what the definition of marriage is nation-
wide. The States should have that right, and we are trying to pro-
tect that right. And by passing this legislation, the States will not
have to recognize same-sex marriages unless they choose to. But
they still have the right to choose to. That would be the State op-
tion. It wouldn't be dictated by an unelected court.
Senator Feinstein. Let me just respond to what a constitutional
lawyer has said on that just for a moment:
As a matter of constitutional law, it is my professional opinion that it would not
violate the ftill faith and credit clause of the Constitution for a second State to
refuse to recognize a same-sex marriage legalized in Hawaii when the second State
has a strong public pohcy against same-sex marriage and when the same-sex couple
lives in or has some other significant contact with the second State. I believe that
the constitutional history and case precedents overwhelmingly confirm that the sec-
26-513 96-2
14
ond State constitutionally covild refuse to recognize the same-sex marriage if it chose
to do so;
or it could recognize the same-sex marriage if it chose to do so.
So
Senator NiCKLES. Well, under our legislation-
Senator Feinstein [continuing]. Why is it necessary for us to do
this?
Senator Nickles. Well, we clarify it very easily in our legislation.
We basically say no State has to recognize same-sex marriage. That
is the essence of our legislation. If you believe in States' rights, you
should support this legislation to allow the States to make that de-
cision, and not rely on Laurence Tribe or anyone else — even though
I have great respect for the professor and constitutional scholar. In-
stead, I rely on, one, the office of the Attorney Greneral and its
opinion on the legislation, and two, on the Constitution that says
let's allow the States to be able to make that decision and not have
it dictated to them. The full faith and credit is well established in
the Constitution, and States do recognize other States' laws in
dealing with marriage. So if one State — or in this case, Hawaii —
even though the State legislature is opposed to same-sex marriage,
the court, by a 3-to-2 decision, may come out and legalize same-sex
marriage, we do not think that other States should have to recog-
nize that such marriages. That is the purpose of this legislation.
That is the timing of it, too.
Back to Senator Kennedy's questions, the court is going to be
making the decision in September of this year, and you are going
to have a lot of people, advocates and others, that are going to be
saying, wait a minute, the court has decided this in Hawaii, there-
fore, other States, you must recognize it. Granted, those decisions
will be appealed, but you are going to have a multitude of litigation
in all 50 States.
Senator Feinstein. Let me just respond
The Chairman. Senator, your time is up.
Senator Feinstein [continuing]. This quote was not Larry Tribe.
This quote was from somebody who is going to testify before us
today
The Chairman. Well, then, let them testify.
Senator Feinstein [continuing]. Lynn Wardle, professor of law at
Brigham Young University. So we will have an opportunity to ex-
amine this witness and to discuss this further.
I thank the Chair.
The Chairman. Senator Feingold?
STATEMENT OF HON. RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, A U.S. SENATOR
FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
Senator Feingold. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have to leave in
a couple of moments. I am going to try to come back. But I am just
going to use this opportunity to sort of summarize a couple of the
comments that have been made by Senator Kennedy and Senator
Feinstein.
The ultimate question in a situation like this is: Is this a good
bill? And I have some serious doubts about whether or not it is a
good bill. But there are a couple of preliminary questions that just
haven't been answered to my satisfaction. The first one is: Should
15
the bill be here at all? Should this be handled at this level of gov-
ernment?
I go to every county in my State every year to hold a town meet-
ing, and the reaction I get from people is — it has to do with a huge
variety of issues, but there is an overwhelming feeling — ^that I
thought this Congress was all about — that we shouldn't use the
Federal Government as a hammer on people's personal lives unless
we have to. And it just strikes me that of all the priorities we have,
the notion that this Congress is going to get itself involved in this
situation, obviously very prematurely, is very unfortunate. I have
watched this carefully for the last 2 years, issue after issue. I
thought this Congress was going to be about letting the States and,
where possible, individuals make their own determination, to get
the Federal Government off of people's backs. I really believe in
that philosophy. Even though some people think Democrats don't
believe in it, I do.
I really think we have got a problem with the Federal Govern-
ment that sticks itself into too many areas, and the ultimate area
would be the personal one. Sometimes we have to, but this issue
seems so premature from the point of view of both the law and the
existence of a problem.
I don't have my constituents begging me to deal with this issue.
I listen to two or three thousand people a year. Maybe they will
at some point.
And that leads to the second question, whether it should be
brought up now in the context of this Congress as Senator Kennedy
was talking about. People are very interested, when it comes to
this committee, especially in issues of violent crime. They are inter-
ested in what is happening with drugs. They are terrified of things
happening to them by people who are not law-abiding. However,
this bill is directed, frankly, at people who are law-abiding. And
this just isn't a priority for our country — certainly not at this stage
of the game, as Senator Kennedy has said so well.
The reality is — of course, the majority can bring up any bill they
want at any time. However, the reality is this does take away the
ability to deal with those other issues because there is so little leg-
islative time remaining. That is just a fact. Things that we could
accomplish together, both parties together, to help save people's
lives are being lost because of the need to bring this issue up at
this time.
That really troubles me because I enjoy working on this commit-
tee a great deal. I think it is an excellent committee. And we have
just got so much to do. This just doesn't rank up there, and it
should be deferred to a later time.
I will have some questions later, I hope, if I get back, but I am
very troubled by the notion that this will take precedence over
things that we are trying to do on health care and jobs and crime
and so many other issues.
The Chairman. Well, let me say this. I don't mean to cut you off.
Senator Nickles, but one of the witnesses who will testify will talk
about the breakdown of the family in our society. I happen to think
it is a very priority issue. I happen to think that anything we can
do to talk about how we solve these breakdown problems and how
we start elevating the family to the level where it should be, how
16
we get husbands to live up to their obligations, how we stop the
high divorce rate, how we resolve these problems that are social
problems that are wrecking our country, these are all pretty impor-
tant. I don't consider protecting traditional marriage and family
values to be divisive.
Now, I agree that this is not part of Senator Kennedy's agenda;
this bill is not part of Senator Kennedy's agenda. But be that as
it may, it is coming up in the House, and frankly, this is an appro-
priate time to have this hearing. It is an important hearing. We
have important witnesses on both sides of this issue, as we always
do, I think in fairness. And I have to say this: I don't know of many
issues that are more important. But I do kind of resent anybody
saying that this committee is not doing its job. We have passed
some of the most important legislation in history through this com-
mittee and through the floor. We have worked hard on the judges.
I don't think anybody can deny that. Even the Washington Post ad-
mits that.
It is not the Republicans' fault that judges are not being ap-
proved on the floor. Since March of this year, I have tried to get
people through, clearing both sides of the floor, and just 2 weeks
ago, I tried to put through nine judges, some of which have biparti-
san support, some of which have only Democrat support. Demo-
crats raised objections to that. It is not hard for Republicans to say
if they don't want their judges, why in the heck should we?
And, frankly, to have somebody come up here and say we are not
doing our job on this committee I think is a little offensive.
Now, this is an important bill. It is worthy of consideration.
These issues are some of the most important issues in our society,
regardless of which side you come down on. I personally don't want
discrimination in any form against anvbody. And I know the distin-
guished Senator from Oklahoma feels very much the same. But
there are some values that deserve consideration, deserve protec-
tion, and family values, in my opinion, rank at the highest level.
I think this is an important hearing, regardless of what anybody
thinks. And as far as I am concerned, it isn't a political issue. It
is a very important moral and family issue. And if society wants
to go the way Senator Kennedy would have it go, I guess we will
have to live with that. If our society feels as others feel, like Sen-
ator Nickles and myself and others, then I hope the other side will
be willing to at least give some recognition to that point of view
as well.
I hope we are not intolerant about others' points of view just be-
cause they differ with ours, on either side, and I sometimes think
there is a great deal of intolerance from those who are always
claiming they are tolerant.
Now, Senator Nickles, we appreciate your testifying
Senator Kennedy. Well, Mr. Chairman, since I have been re-
ferred to-
The Chairman. Well, I didn't refer to you. I just
Senator Kennedy [continuing]. Well, you said, as Senator Ken-
nedy wants whatever society wants to go, if they — and I inter-
preted that as not to be a favorable comment. [Laughter.]
The Chairman. Well, then, I will give you some time.
Senator Nickles. That scared a lot of people in Oklahoma.
17
Senator Kennedy. Well, I know. We are used to — well, I don't
want to say that. [Laughter.]
The Chairman. I think you have gone deep enough here today,
Senator Kennedy.
Senator Kennedy. I don't have to go back and defend what I
have said earlier about the respect that I have for others that have
differing views than I have on this extremely important issue. But
I would hope, as you have just stated, that we are going to hear
from these other witnesses about what the real threat to the family
is and why this legislation is going to solve it. I dare say you do
have the problems that are out there in terms of families staying
together, and a lot of the fact is because they don't have a decent
payment of a decent minimum wage and both parents working and
they don't have time with their kids. It is because they fear that
they don't get decent kind of health care, because they are scared
they are living in communities with crimes and violence, and that
they are troubled by the fact that their kids go to schools where
there is too much violence.
I don't vield to anyone about my view about this society, and I
don't yield to anyone about my concern about the family. So I hope
that those witnesses are going to come up, if that is what the sec-
ond panel is going to tell us, is going to tell us about how this legis-
lation threatens American family life. I think it is important that
we do focus on the questions of families and what the impacts are
in terms of everyday life and the problems that they are facing also
in terms of discrimination that is out there. But I am not going to
let a comment go by and let someone suggest that they are nec-
essarily more family oriented than other members of the commit-
tee.
The Chairman. I don't think anybody doubts your loyalty to your
family. But I am saying this, that there is a lot of BS around here
about what is good and what isn't good for families. I happen to
think that morality happens to be good for families, as the father
of 6 children, and now expecting 17 grandchildren. We have 15
now; 2 more are on the way. At least, that is all I know about who
are on the way. [Laughter.]
So let's get with it, and let's recognize this as an important piece
of constitutional legislation. There may be differing points of view,
but it is important. And we are going to have good witnesses on
both sides of this issue, and we are going to conduct this hearing
fairly.
So, with that. Senator Nickles, thank you for coming.
Senator Kennedy. I want to thank Senator Nickles. We have a
difference, but we are always glad to hear from you, both in the
committee and on the floor. Seriously, there is no disrespect in-
tended, but these are views that ought to be exchanged. I thank
you very much for coming.
Senator Nickles. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Nickles.
[The prepared statement of Senator Nickles follows:]
Prepared Statement of Senator Don Nickles, a U.S. Senator From the State
OF Oklahoma
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: The Defense of Marriage Act,
which I am pleased to have introduced, is a simple measure, limited in scope and
18
based on common sense. It shares broad bipartisan support, including the Presi-
dent's.
The bill does but two things: First, the bill restates the cvurent and long-estab-
lished understanding that "marriage" means "a legal union between one man and
one woman as husband and wife." The act also defines "spouse" as "a person of the
opposite sex who is a husband or a wife." These definitions apply only to Federal
law.
Second, the bill says that no State shaill be required to give effect to a second
State's acts, records, or judgments "respecting a relationship between persons of the
same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws" of that second State.
There is nothing earth-shattering here. No breaking of new ground. No setting of
new precedents. Indeed, these provisions simply reaffirm what is already known,
what is already in place.
The definitions of S. 1740 are based on common understandings rooted in owr na-
tion's history, our statutes, and our case law. They merely reaffirm what Americans
have meant for 200 years when using the words marriage" and "spouse." The cur-
rent United States Code does not contain a definition of marriage, presumably be-
cause most Americans know what it means and never imagined challenges such as
those we are facing today.
As mentioned earlier, the Act's definitions apply to Federal law only. The Act does
not intrude on the ability of the States to define marriage as they choose. To the
contrary, this bill protects the right of States to define marriage for themselves.
This way, each State will be able to decide for itself the type of marriage it will
sanction.
The Defense of Marriage Act invokes Congress' constitutional authority, under Ar-
ticle rV, section 1, to "prescribe" "the effecr that shall be given to the public acts,
records, and judicial proceedings of the various states with regeird to the Full Faith
and Credit Clause.
As the Committee knows, in May of 1993 the Hawaii Supreme Court rendered
a preliminary ruling in favor of three same-sex couples who applied for marriage
licenses. "The court said the State's marriage law discriminated against the plaintiffs
in violation of the equal-rights provision of the State Constitution. The case was re-
manded to the lower courts for a trial, to see if the State could show a "compelling
state interest" to justify the marriage law. That trial is expected to start in the fall
It has become clear that advocates of same-sex unions intend to win the lawsuit
in Hawaii and then invoke the Full Faith and Credit Clause to force the other 49
states to accept same-sex unions.
Many States are justifiably concerned that Hawaii's reco^tion of same-sex
unions will compromise their own laws prohibiting such marriages. Legislators in
over 30 States have introduced bills to deny recognition to same-sex unions. Four-
teen States already have approved such laws, and many other states are now grap-
pling with the issue — including Hawaii, where legislative leaders are fighting to
block their own courts from sanctioning such marriages. This bill would address this
issue head-on, and it would allow each State to make the final determination for
itself
It seems to me, that the strategy of those advocating same-sex unions is pro-
foundly undemocratic. I cannot envision a more appropriate time for invoking our
constitutional authority to define the nature of the States' obligations to one an-
other. As State Representative Terrance Tom from Hawaii testified before a House
Subcommittee:
If inaction by the Congress runs the risk that a single judge in Hawaii
may re-define the scope of legislation throughout the other forty-nine
states, [then] failure to act is a dereliction of the responsibilities [Congress
was] invested with by the voters.
Another reason this bill is needed now concerns Federal benefits. The Federal
Grovemment extends benefits, rights, and privileges to persons who are married, and
generally it accepts a State's definition of marriage. This bill will help the Federal
Government defend the traditional and common-sense definitions of the American
people. Otiherwise, if Hawaii (or another State) gives new meaning to the words
marriage" and "spouse," the reverberations may be felt throughout the Federal
code.
The provisions of Federal law do not, of course, regulate only the activities of the
Federal Government. Federal law also regulates private persons. Consider the im-
plication of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
Shortly before passage of that Act in the Senate, I attached an amendment that
defined '^spouse" as "a husband or wife, as the case may be." When the Secretary
of Labor published his proposed regulations, a considerable number of comments
19
were received urging that the definition of "spouse" be broadened to include domes-
tic partners in committed relationships, including same-sex relationships. Ho\yever,
when the Secretary issued the final rules he stated that the statutory definition of
"spouse" and the legislative history of the Act precluded such a broadening of the
definition. That small amendment, which was unanimously adopted, spared a great
deal of costly and unnecessary Utigation— and it spared Congress the shock it would
have received from the American people if we had allowed the word "spouse" to
mean something it had never meant before.
As the Committee knows, the White House has said that the President will sign
the bill if "presented to him as currently written." The Committee also knows that
the U.S. Department of Justice has said that it expects the bill will "be sustained
as constitutional if challenged in court."
I urge the Committee to report the bill favorably so that the bill can be considered
soon on the Senate floor.
Thank you.
The Chairman. We are going to call at this time Gary Bauer,
who is president of the Family Research Council; David Zwiebel,
who is general counsel for Agudath Israel of America, a national
Orthodox Jewish movement; Prof. Lynn Wardle, a BYU law profes-
sor with extensive knowledge in family law and conflict law; Mitzi
Henderson, president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays; and Prof. Cass Sunstein, the Llewellyn Professor of Ju-
risprudence at the Chicago School of Law.
We welcome all of you. We are happy to have you here. We look
forward to hearing your testimony. Gary Bauer, we will start with
you first.
PANEL CONSISTING OF GARY L. BAUER, PRESIDENT, FAMILY
RESEARCH COUNCIL, WASHINGTON, DC; LYNN D. WARDLE,
PROFESSOR OF LAW, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, PROVO,
UT; CASS R. SUNSTEIN, KARL N. LLEWELLYN PROFESSOR OF
JURISPRUDENCE, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL;
MITZI HENDERSON, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, PARENTS, FAMI-
LIES AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS, MENLO PARK,
CA; AND DAVID ZWIEBEL, GENERAL COUNSEL AND DIREC-
TOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, AGUDATH ISRAEL OF
AMERICA, NEW YORK, NY
STATEMENT OF GARY L. BAUER
Mr. Bauer. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, it is a real pleasure to
be here this morning before this committee
The Chairman. If I could wait just a second, let's go with you
first, Gary, and then we will go across the board. And the reason
I am starting with you first is because of your Family Research
Council and some of the questions that have been raised. Maybe
you can answer them.
Mr. Bauer. OK. Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure to be here this
morning with the committee and to discuss this profound issue. I
have to admit to you, however, that I feel some mixed emotions.
As good as it is to be here and to have a chance to interact with
some old friends about something that really matters, it is also rel-
atively depressing that in 1996 we actually have to have a hearing
to discuss whether or not it is a good or bad idea for marriage to
be redefined to mean that a man could marry a man and a woman
marry a woman.
Mr. Chairman, we have had about 30 years now of a sexual revo-
lution that has left quite a bit of destruction and damage in its
20
wake, and almost every place you turn, you can see the casualties
of that sexual revolution. In 1996, here in Washington, DC, 75 per-
cent of all the children born will be bom out of wedlock. That is
an incredible figure, but it is not unlike the figure
The Chairman. What was that figure? I missed it.
Mr. Bauer. Seventy-five percent of all the children born in
Washington, DC, this year will be born out of wedlock.
The Chairman. How does that compare to the national average?
Mr. Bauer. Nationally, one birth out of three is out of wedlock,
and in almost all the major cities, the figures are comparable to the
figures that I just mentioned to you.
The Chairman. I don't mean to interrupt you.
Mr. Bauer. That is OK.
The Chairman. But this is something I have been wondering
about. What was that like, say, a few decades ago? Or you pick the
period.
Mr. Bauer. This is really the amazing thing. I think there is a
feeling today that it has always been this way. You only have to
go back about 25 years to get figures that are extremely low. I
think in Washington, DC, 25 years ago — I don't have the figures
at my fingertips, but I believe it was more like 8 or 9 percent out
of wedlock.
The Chairman. And today it is 75 percent. How about the rest
of the country 25 years ago?
Mr. Bauer. Likewise, the rest of the country, out-of-wedlock
births 25 or 30 years ago were an exceptional thing. The change
in the last 30 years has been unbelievable. And it happened almost
in slow motion, when no one was really paying much attention. But
one of the effects of it is that Washington, DC, has probably guar-
anteed, as has the other major cities in the United States, has
probably guaranteed its crime rate and its educational failure 15,
16 years down the road, because we are going to have hundreds of
thousands, in fact, millions of young bovs raised in our major cities
with the influence of no adult male in the house. And we now know
after study, one study after another, what the effects of all that
are.
Mr. Chairman, it doesn't stop, obviously, just with the out-of-
wedlock birth rate. We have got one divorce for every two mar-
riages. We have sexually transmitted diseases now spread through-
out the country that would have been unthinkable 25 or 30 years
ago.
One of the most depressing things you can do is go into a sexu-
ally transmitted disease clinic in any city in America and see 11-
and 12- and 13-year-olds sitting in that clinic with diseases that
they may be afflicted with for the rest of their lives.
Well, you would think, after 30 years of a sexual revolution leav-
ing this kind of wreckage, that those pushing radical social change
and radical sexual change would be inclined to say let's call time
out. Maybe there is only a couple of ways to get things right.
Maybe there are a lot of ways to get things wrong. Maybe the sex-
ual revolution is doing things to America that ought to give us
pause. But no such luck. Those groups pushing radical social
change after 30 years of this wreckage and this disaster are now
arguing that we ought to take the basic institution of marriage and
21
redefine it to be the union of a man with another man or a woman
with another woman. It is hard to imagine more radical change
than something that would do that.
Now, Mr. Chairman, with your permission, I would like to sub-
mit my whole statement to the record.
The Chairman. Without objection, we will put all full statements
in the record as though fully delivered.
Mr. Bauer. But let me just make a couple of additional points
related to some of the questions that were asked by Senator Ken-
nedy and others.
We are being asked not only to ignore the mounting evidence
that the mother-and-father family is the foundation of civilization,
but we are being asked to weaken marriage further by redefining
it. We are being asked to pretend that marriage is no longer about
bringing the two sexes together in a biological, social, economic,
and spiritual union. We are being asked to restructure our entire
sexual morality and social system to embrace a concept that has
never, Mr. Chairman, never been accepted in the world by any
major culture. We are being asked to do something that has never
been done before.
I see my time is running out. Let me just make two more points.
No one is denied the right to marry. They just have to meet the
requirements of marriage. The two sexes must be present for a
marriage to occur. If that definition is radically altered based on
the feelings of those in other relationships, then there is absolutely
no logical reason why we should not recognize under the law three
people getting married or any other type of unusual or bizarre ar-
rangement that one could imagine.
Finally — and I am sorry that Senator Kennedy has stepped out;
I hope he will return to continue this discussion. But I would par-
ticularly say to Senator Kennedy that we are here today because
a few judges in Hawaii, against the express wishes of the Hawaiian
people, are contemplating a radical social change. Ordinary people
did not pick this fight. They are not the aggressors. They are mere-
ly defending the basic morality that has sustained the culture for
a long, long time. Yet good men and women of varying beliefs have
been subjected to a barrage of name calling and abuse simply for
saying that marriage ought to be the union of a man and a woman,
and that the laws should protect this vital social norm. It is not
hatred to prefer normalcy. It is not bigotry to resist radical redefi-
nition of marriage.
Mr. Chairman, along with you, I have consistently condemned
gay-bashing and violence against homosexuals, and I would hope
some of the other witnesses at the table would also condemn radi-
cal homosexual groups going into St. Patrick's Cathedral and dis-
rupting worshiping services. This sort of event has happened all
over the country.
A few days ago, we did a forum on Capitol Hill on the issue of
marriage. It was an open discussion by men and women of good
will. There were a lot of views presented. We had to turn off our
800 line that afternoon because of the hate-filled and abusive
phone calls that poured into our offices because we had the audac-
ity to say that marriage ought to be between a man and a woman.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
22
[The prepared statement of Mr. Bauer follows:]
Prepared Statement of Gary L. Bauer, President, Family Research Council
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for inviting me to testify.
As the head of an organization supported by 300,000 families, I am often asked
to provide information on various issues that are important to family life, from tax
credits to welfare reform. But in all my years of pro-family work, I cannot recall
an issue that was so central to the very idea of family.
The Defense of Marriage Act would have seemed unnecessary and even unthink-
able just a few years ago, even though marriage has been under siege for some time.
No-fault divorce, a sex-saturated culture, and growing fiscal and social pressures
have sundered many a marriage or, in some cases, discouraged them from happen-
ing, even with children in the picture. Many Americans are wrestling with the pain
of t)roken families and are trying to rebuild their lives.
The decline of marriage has spawned America's most destructive social problems,
as fatherless households have mviltiplied. You probably have heard the litany by
now, but let me take a moment to mention some of the devastation caused by a lack
of support for marriage: out-of-wedlock pregnancies, sexually-transmitted diseases,
alcohol and drug abuse, educational failure, community decline, and last but not
least, a frightening epidemic of crime that has changed the way we live.
A visitor from another land might well observe that we seem caught in a quicken-
ing downward spiral. As marriages fail, the pain spreads out through the next gen-
eration to the ones that follow.
The solution seems self-evident: If the collapse of marriage is the problem, why
don't we move to strengthen this irreplaceable institution? Well, we could and
shovdd. Yet we are being asked by some groups with a radical agenda to do precisely
the opposite.
We are being asked not only to ignore the mounting evidence that the mother-
and-father family is the foundation of civilization, but to weaken marriage further
by redefining it. We are being asked to pretend that marriage is no longer about
bringing the two sexes together in a biological, social, economic, legal and spiritual
union. We are being asked to restructure our entire sexual morality and social sys-
tem to embrace a concept that has never been accepted anywhere in the world by
any major culture. We are being asked to pretend that somehow two men could re-
place a mother in a child's life or that two women could take the place of a father
and that it won't make any difference to children.
Often I am asked, what does it matter if two men or two women down the street
want to call what they have "marriage?" Why does that hurt you or your marriage?
Well it doesn't— unless they bring the law into it. Then the fiction is imposed on
everyone and the counterfeit will do great harm to the special status that the genu-
ine institution has earned. There are many relationships in which love is involved.
But marriage is a unique bonding of the two sexes, with the probable expectation
of procreation of children. It is the core of civilization and is universally honored.
Marriage is more than a union of two people who have strong feelings for one an-
other. Marriage establishes bloodlines, kinship, the passage of family traditions and
values through the generations, the passing on of family names and property and
it is the most important source of social stability. If we all existed for only one gen-
eration, we would not have as strong a case for creating legal and cultural safe-
guards for marriage. But the protection of marriage is not only about social har-
mony. It is about creating a future for our children.
Nobody is denied the '^right" to marry. They just have to meet the requirements.
The two sexes must be present for it to be marriage. If that definition is radically
altered based on the "feelings" of those in other relationships, then there is no log-
ical reason for not letting several people marry, or for gutting other marital require-
ments, such as minimum age, blood relative status or even the limitation of the re-
lationship to human beings.
Marriage is blessed by all major religions as the union of a man and a woman,
so creating a counterfeit would be a slap in the face to millions of Americans. As
George Washington observed, government is not eloquence or suggestion; govern-
ment is force. If the government imposes a definition of marriage on all citizens that
runs directly counter to the teachings of the great religions, it forces millions outside
the civil law. , ,. ^ i
The state would be teUing many, many people that their behefs are no longer
valid, and would turn the civil rights laws into a battering ram against them:
• Businessmen and women would be prosecuted if they failed to offer spousal
health benefits to homosexual "spouses."
23
• Children would necessarily be taught in schools that homosexual relations rep-
resent the moral equivalent of marital love.
• Same-sex "marriage" would give a mighty tool to those pushing for adoption of
children in homosexual households.
• Private organizations Uke the Boy Scouts of America would come under in-
creased pressure to abandon their moral standards
We are here today because a few judges in Hawaii, against the expressed wishes
of the Hawaiian people, are poised to strike down Hawaii's marriage law and legal-
ize homosexual 'Carriages." Under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S.
Constitution, it is likely that homosexuals from other states would fly to Hawaii,
get a marriage license and then come home, demanding the exact same status as
married couples in other states. This would create legal havoc and opportunities for
further judicial mischief
The Defense of Marriage Act merely puts the federal government on record as de-
fining marriage as the union of a man and a woman as husband and wife, and it
asserts Congress' constitutional prerogative of interpreting the Full Faith and Cred-
it Clause so that the other 49 states will not be forced to submit to a handful of
judges in Hawaii.
On May 20, in Romer v. Evans, the U.S. Supreme Court showed how little regard
some powerful jiuists have for tiie right of people to govern themselves in a demo-
cratic repubhc. Congress needs to act now to reassert the legislative branch's con-
stitutional role as the voice of the people and the maker of the laws. It needs to
send a message to the Supreme Court and other courts that they cannot be per-
mitted to exchange morality for immorality in the nation's laws.
In his powerfiS and eloquent dissent, Justice Scalia warned that we are at a
crossroads in which the very idea of a self-governing federal system is hanging in
the balance. We cannot afford to let judges usurp any more power and tyrannize
an already besieged moral code. The Defense of Marriage Act is a powerful antidote
to the destructive trend that has gripped this country at the hands of some injudi-
cious judges.
Finally, I would like to add that ordinary people did not pick this fight. They are
not the aggressors. They are merely defending the basic morality that has sustained
the cultvu-e for everyone. Yet good men and women of varying beliefs have been sub-
jected to a barrage of name-calling and abuse simply for saying that marriage ought
to be the union of a man and a woman and that the law should protect this vital
social norm. It is not hatred to prefer normalcy. It is not bigotry to resist radical
redefinition of marriage. It is not intolerance to believe in traditional morality.
The Defense of Marriage Act is a matter of common sense. It is sorely needed.
I doubt that in all you do here, you will do anything more important. I urp you
to give it swift approval so that the Congress can move to protect our society s irre-
placeable institution.
Thank you very much.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Bauer.
We will go to you, Mr. Wardle, and then to you, Cass, and then
across the table.
STATEMENT OF LYNN D. WARDLE
Mr. Wardle. Thank you. Chairman Hatch.
Distinguished members of this committee, I am honored to give
this testimony this morning regarding Senate bill 1740. I am going
to summarize my written statement to just a few of the points
which I know will be included in the record of this hearing. I want
to emphasize that the opinions I express are my own professional
views and not those of any institution with which I am associated.
The primary issue facing the committee today is whether Con-
gress has the authority to enact S. 1740, or DOMA, as I will call
it. I believe that it does. The regulation of domestic relations has
long been regarded as a virtually exclusive province of the States,
yet it is the open strategy of same-sex marriage advocates who use
Federal law, the Federal full faith and credit provisions, as well as
24
interpretations of Federal statutes to force the States to recognize
same-sex marriage. I believe that there is a serious threat to the
authority of each State to regulate family relationships and to our
Federal system. It is a very serious thing to propose to use Federal
authority to force unwilling States to recognize same-sex marriage
or to impose same-sex marriage on Federal law without the ap-
proval of Congress. I believe that that is a matter that merits the
attention of this committee and of the Congress.
This is not a speculative concern. Same-sex marriage advocates
and law review writers have been urging that interpretation of the
full faith and credit clause as well as of Federal law very vigor-
ously. The fact that 15 States have now enacted legislation, most
of them this year, within the last few months, declaring that they
do not wish to recognize and will not recognize same-sex marriages
is, I think, some indication of the seriousness and immediacy of the
concern.
DOMA has two operative sections. Section 2 provides that Fed-
eral full faith and credit rules neither prohibit nor compel any
State to recognize same-sex marriages. Section 2 doesn't bar any
State from legalizing same-sex marriage, nor does it prevent any
State from recognizing same-sex marriages created in another
State. It simply clarifies that the Federal rules of full faith and
credit may not be used to force any State to recognize same-sex
marriages legalized in some other State.
Thus, DOMA is a neutrality provision because it neither forbids
nor requires any State to recognize full faith and credit. It leaves
the matters to State decision. It protects the authority of each
State to decide for itself whether or not to recognize same-sex mar-
riage, thus protecting our federalism.
Section 3 prevents the back-door importation of same-sex mar-
riage into Federal law without the approval of Congress. It elimi-
nates an ambiguity that could breed costly and confusing and un-
necessary litigation. Section 3 provides that for purposes of inter-
preting Federal law — and I emphasize Federal law only — the word
"marriage" means only a legal union of one man and one woman
as husband and wife. That definition is not imposed on any State.
It is for use of Federal law only. And I think it accurately reflects
congressional intent for when Congress has enacted legislation
using the term "marriage," as it has literally hundreds of times, it
has never intended that to encompass same-sex unions.
Both sections leave undisturbed the authority of each State and
Congress to regulate, to legalize, or recognize same-sex marriage if
they deem it appropriate. The question is whether Congress has
the authority to enact legislation to prevent the misuse or misinter-
pretation of Federal law to force same-sex marriage onto States
without their consent or upon Federal programs without the ap-
proval of this Congress. I believe that Congress has that authority.
Clearly, Congress has the constitutional powers to enact legisla-
tion like section 2 of DOMA defining the full faith and credit effect
of acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other States — or one
State in other States. The very language of the full faith and credit
clause of the Constitution explicitly empowers Congress to do so,
as we have heard this morning. Legal scholars have long argued
that Congress can and should exercise that power to legislate, and
25
the Supreme Court has repeatedly acknowledged that Congress has
the authority to so legislate.
Of course, that power is not absolute or unlimited. If S. 1740
were to discriminate, deny full faith and credit regarding Catholics
or Jehovah's Witnesses or blacks, clearly it would violate the four-
teenth amendment of the Constitution.
Does S. 1740 unconstitutionally discriminate on the basis of ho-
mosexuality? Does it violate Romer v. Evans? I think not. First, it
focuses on marriage and the protection of the definition of marriage
by the States. Marriage is a classic example of a preferred status.
It is very important to distinguish between three categories of
law — prohibiting, tolerating, and preferring. While Romer deals
with prohibiting or tolerance, this statute directs with a matter of
preference. You don't have to extend preference in order to tolerate
something.
Second, the same day that the Supreme Court decided Romer, it
also decided the BMW case in which it reiterated the importance
of the principle of State sovereignty and the impermissibility of one
State to impose its own policy choices on neighboring States. This
bill is designed to prevent one State from dictating to all of the
other States how marriage will be defined or whether they recog-
nize same-sex marriage.
Is my time up, Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. It is up, but if you wanted to finish — I always
give a little leeway to witnesses, especially constitutional experts.
Mr. Wardle. Thank you, Mr, Chairman. I will finish up in just
one minute or less.
The BMW v. Gore case involved a mere matter of regulating auto
sales, and the Supreme Court said that it had to protect against
one State imposing or dictating to other States what their legal pol-
icy would be by penalizing acts in another State. I think if that is
important in auto sales, it is even more important for Congress to
protect the sovereignty of each State with respect to defining mar-
riage.
In the case of judgments, full faith and credit requires more care
and attention, and there has to be, I think, a very clear showing
of a strong public policy. States cannot decline to recognize judg-
ments willy-nilly. I don't think the difference between positive and
negative language has any significance. The Supreme Court has
often upheld — has looked for congressional intent, and when it
finds an implied intent that Congress did not intend full faith and
credit to be given, it has not given that effect.
I think I will defer the rest of my statement to the written state-
ment. Thank you for your indulgence.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Wardle follows:]
Prepared Statement of Professor Lynn D. Wardle
I am honored to be invited to submit this written statement and to give testimony
concerning S. 1740 to this Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Senate.
I am a professor of law and I have taught courses in and relating to Family Law,
Conflict of Law, and the Origins of the Constitution for many years. ^ S. 1740 hap-
1 1 am a Professor of Law at Brigham Young University. I also have taught family law and
conflicts law or related subjects at Howard University School of Law (as Visiting Professor), at
Sophia University Faculty of Law in Japan, (as Visiting Professor), and at the University of Ab-
Continued
26
pens to touch on all three of those fields. Thus, I have been asked to give my profes-
sional comment and analysis regarding S. 1740. Of course, the opinions I express
are my own professional views; I do not speak for any of the institutions or organi-
zations with which I am associated. . ... ,
S. 1740 is titled "the Defense of Marriage Act" (hereinafter "the Act") but I would
call it "the Protection of Federalism in Family Law Act." The bill contains two oper-
ative sections. Section 2 resolves a potentially serious controversy concerning federal
Fiill Faith and Credit marriage recognition rules by clarifying that if a state chooses
to legalize same-sex marriage, it mav not force that radical redefinition of marriage
upon the other states. It preserves the right of each state to choose for itself wheth-
er to recognize same-sex marriage. Section 3 eliminates a potentially serious ambi-
guity in federal statutes, regulations, and programs regarding the meaning of "mar-
riage" in federal law, preventing the back-door importation of same-sex marriage
into federal law without the approval of Congress. Both sections leave undisturbed
the power of each state to define marriage for itself, and to control the incidents
of marriage provided by state law. Thus, S. 1740 protects the crucial balance of fed-
eralism in ovir constitutional system, preserving the right of each state and of Con-
gress to settle the same-sex marriage question tor itself
The main questions that have been raised concerning S. 1740 and its counterpart
in the House of Representatives, H.R. 3396, concern the need for the Act, the au-
thority of Congress to enact the Defense of Marriage Act, and whether it is suffi-
ciently tolerant under the recent Supreme Court decision in Romer v. Evans.^ Those
are the three main questions I address.^ But first, it is important to explain exactly
what S. 1740 would do if enacted. The astonishing inaccuracy of some newspaper
descriptions of the Act, some the criticisms that have been made of it, reveal that
there is substantial confusion about what the Act would do.
I. DOMA SIMPLY PROTECTS THE RIGHT OF EACH STATE AND OF THE FEDERAL GOVERN-
MENT TO DETERMINE FOR ITSELF WHETHER TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX MARRLVGE
a. Section 2 of S. 1740 clarifies that Federal full faith and credit principles permit
hut do not compel other States to recognize same-sex marriages
Section 2 of S. 1740 provides, in pertinent part, that:
No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe,
shall be required to give effect to any pubUc act, record, or judicial proceed-
ing or any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relation-
ship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under
the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or
claim arising fi-om such relationship.
The issue to which this Section is addressed is whether the federal government's
full faith and credit power should be used to force one state's creation of a radical
new form of "marriage" upon the other states. Section 2 answers, "No."
Section 2 clarifies the "effect" that federal ftill faith and credit rules require a
state to give to public acts, records and judicial proceedings from another state that
establish or recognize or give legal effect to a same-sex relationship as a marriage.
Three details should be noted. First, nothing in Section 2 prohibits any state from
recognizing same-sex marriage or recognizing other states' acts, records or judicial
proceedings treating same-sex unions as marriages. Each state is still free to legal-
ize same-sex marriage, or to give effect to another states' legalization of same-sex
marriage, if it chooses to do so. A state may have or may create conflict of law rules
erdeen in Scotland (as Visiting Research Fellow). Family Law is my primary area of scholarship.
I have written or co-authored several books and several dozen law review articles or chapters
in books about family law. Two of my most recent publications (published this year) are law
review articles examining constitutional arguments for same-sex marriage, Lynn D. Wardle, A
Critical Analysis of Constitutional Claims for Same-Sex Marriage," 1996 B.Y.U.L. Rev. 1-101,
and the rules and practices regarding international recognition of marriages, Lymi D. Wardle,
"International Marriage and Divorce Regulation and Recognition: A Survey," Family Law Quar-
terly, vol. 29, pp. 497-517 (Fall 1995). AdditionaUy, I have served as an officer or executive
council member of the leading international scholarly organization in the field of fanuly law,
the International Society of Family Law, and I have served actively in the American Law Insti-
tute consultative group that is working on a "Family Law Project." I have received valuable
input in preparing this testimony from my research assistants, Mr. Bill Duncan and Mr. Iroy
Smith.
2 116 S.Ct. 1620(1996). ,, „ ^. , ^ . . ,
8 Because of the very limited time provided to prepare this Statement m order to meet the
tight legislative schedule, my review of all these points is necessarily brief. The subjects could
and should be considered in much more comprehensive detail, with more fully-developed discus-
sion of each of the points raised herein.
27
that would recognize same-sex marriages if legal in other states, and Section 2 does
not interfere with that at all. Second, Section 2 only specifies that the federal full
faith and credit rules do not compel other states to recognize or enforce same-sex
marriages legalized or recognized in another state. Thus, S. 1740 takes a "neutral"
position, that federal full faith and credit neither prohibits nor requires any state
to recognize same-sex marriage acts, records and judgments from other states.
Third, Section 2 applies not only to laws from others states (choice of law) but also
to records and judgments. Thus, if a same-sex couple were married in a state (A)
that had legalized same-sex marriage, another state (B) would not be forced to rec-
ognize that marriage, even if the same-sex couple got a declaratory judgment in the
first state (A) recognizing their "marriage" as valid. Section 2 would allow, but not
compel, others states to recognize (or to not recognize) that judgment. The Act would
simply remove the potential federal compulsion one way or the other, and leave it
up to the second state to decide for itself what effect to give such marriages of mar-
riage judgments.
h. Section 3 of S. 1740 preserves the balance of federalism in family law
Section 3 of S. 1740 provides in pertinent part that:
In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, reg-
ulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agen-
cies of the United States, the word "marriage" means only a legal union be-
tween one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word
"spouse" refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or
a wife.
This clarifies that the terms "marriage" and "spouse," when used in federal laws,
do not include same-sex unions. It defines what those marriage terms mean when
used in federal law only. That is a routine function of any legal system.
S. 1740 does not impose its definition of marriage upon any state or state law,
nor does it bar any state from choosing to legalize same-sex marriage, if it chooses.
Section 3 says only that if a state chooses to legalize same-sex marriage within its
own jurisdiction, that will not force the federal government to use that radical defi-
nition of marriage in federal programs and laws. This is a straightforward applica-
tion of federalism in action.
Section 3 is an accurate reflection of two hundred years of Congressional intent.
The terms "marriage" and "spouse" are used many times in federal law. Some of
the provisions are many decades, even centuries, old. Many of these federal laws
were passed when homosexual relations were criminally prohibited by all the states,
and punished in federal law as well. Even today, with homosexual relations still
criminally prohibited in nearly half of the states and same-sex marriage allowed in
no state (or nation — anywhere in the world), it is beyond question that Congress has
never actually intended to include same-sex unions when it used the terms "mar-
riage" and "spouses." Section 3 appears to embody quite acciirately the actual his-
torical intent and expectation of Congress and federal law generally that when these
marriage terms are used in federal laws, same-sex couples were not intended to be
included."*
Moreover, Section 3 of DOMA does not prevent Congress from later changing its
mind and treating same-sex unions as marriages if it so desires. Indeed, for pur-
poses of specific legislation (such as employment benefits regulation, housing, etc.)
Congress may define the terms of "marriage" and "spouse" to include same-sex cou-
ples, if it chooses. Section 3 merely states the baseline, the default rule, that appUes
in the absence of countervailing specific intent.
Thus, DOMA is a neutrality Act, designed to prevent the misuse of federal law
to force same-sex marriage upon the states without their own consent, or upon fed-
eral laws and programs without Congress' consent. DOMA protects our federalism,
the structiu-e of our liberties, from those who would manipulate federal laws to force
same-sex marriage upon the people of the states and the people of the United States
without their consent or approval.
''Marriage terms are often used in federal law in a manner that suggests that Congress be-
lieved ttiat the definition of "marriage" used in state law would be satisfactory for the federal
law. Since no state allowed such radical reconstruction of marriage as same-sex marriage, the
passive presumption of adoption of state law has worked quite well. However, if some state le-
galizes same-sex marriage, that would radically alter a basic premise upon which the presump-
tion of adoption of state domestic relations law was based— namely, the essential fungibility of
the concepts of "marriage" from one state to another. Section 3 clarifies the premise upon which
two centuries of federal legislation using marriage terms has been predicated.
28
II. THE NEED FOR S. 1740 — FEDERALISM AND FULL FAITH AND CREDIT: CONSTITUTIONAL
PROTECTIONS FOR STATE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FAMILY LAW
a. Federalism
The constitutional allocation of governmental authority between the national gov-
ernment and tiie governments of the states, called federalism, is one of the fun-
damental principles of the Constitution of the United States. It is the core concept
in our system of shared sovereignty between states and the federal government, one
of the essential "balances" of power-against-power that prevents the abuse of power
by either repository of governmental power. Federalism defines the constitutional
relationship of the states and federal government. The general demarcation between
the authority of the national government and the authority of the state governments
provided by the Constitution is the line between external and internal governmental
concerns. In the Federalist Papers, James Madison put it this way:
The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal govern-
ment are few and defined. Those that remain in the State governments are
numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on exter-
nal objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce. * * * The
powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which,
m the ordinary course of affairs; concern the lives, liberties, and the prop-
erties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity
oftheState.5
Hamilton suggested in Federalist No. 17 that the national government would be
concerned with matters of "[cjommerce, finance, negotiation, and war" while the
States governments would have priority in regulation "[t]he administration of pri-
vate justice between citizens of tne same State, the supervision of agriculture and
of other concerns of a similar nature," and "regulating all those personal interests
and familiar concerns to which the sensibility of individuals is more immediately
awake* * *."«
Since 1789 the broad authority of the states to regulate family relations, and the
concomitant absence of virtually any authority of the federal government to directlv
regulate family relations, has been one of the clearest boundary lines of our federal-
ism. The regulation of family relations historically has been, and as a matter of con-
stitutional law still remains, primarily a matter of state law. Indeed, the Supreme
Court of the United States has observed, not infrequently, that the "[Regulation of
domestic relations [is] an area that has long been regarded as a virtually exclusive
province of the states." ' Thus, the enforcement of family law is left primarily to
state courts, and the bulk of the governing rules are state, not federal, laws. For
many years, even federal courts have declined to exercise diversity jurisdiction over
suits directly involving certain core family relations issues,^ and even in cases in-
volving federal question jurisdiction some federal courts have hesitated to hear do-
mestic disputes.9 Behind these federalism practices are such strong poUcy values as
respect for the value of and appreciation of the need to preserve what Alexander
Hamilton described as "the constitutional equilibrium between the general and the
State governments," ^° desire to preserve and foster pluralism, belief that laws regu-
lating families should reflect local values, respect for the expertise of state courts,
and belief that the federal government has more than enough other important prob-
lems to address. S. 1740 appears to respect and protect these principles.
That does not mean, however, that the federal government is unable to exercise
its constitutionally-delegated share of governmental authority whenever its action
would indirectly affect family relations. Proper federal legislation and regulations
dealing with matters clearly entrusted to the federal government such as commerce,
defense, public health, taxes, immigration, social security, and many other federal
programs, often have an indirect but very definite impact upon family relations.
5 The Federalist No. 45, at 292-93 (James Madison) (Clinton Rossiter ed., 1961). In the same
paper, Madison also noted: "[T]he States will retain under the proposed Constitution a very ex-
tensive portion of active sovereignty." Id. at 290.
«The Federalist No. 17, id., at 118-120 (Alexander Hamilton). ^
''Sosna V. Iowa, 419 U.S. 393, 404 (1975); see also Lehman v. Lycoming County Children s
Services Agency, 458 U.S. 502 (1982); Moore v. Sims, 442 U.S. 415 (1979); Barber v. Barber, 62
U.S. (21 How.) 582 (1859). „ , , „„ .,„„„^
^Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. , 112 S.Ct. 2206, 119 L.Ed.2d 468 (1992).
»See Charles A. Wright, Arthur R. Miller and Edward H. Cooper, "Federal Practice and Proce-
dure," par. 3609 (1984 and Supp. 1996); Martin Guggenheim, "State Intervention in the Family:
Making a Federal Case Out ol It," 45 Ohio St. L.J. 399 (1984); see also Thompson v. Thompson,
484 U.S. 174(1988). „ . ^ ,„^,,
10 The Federalist No. 31, at 197 (Alexander Hamilton) (Clinton Rossiter ed. 1961).
29
Likewise, the definition and protection of individual liberties protected by the Con-
stitution under the Fourteenth Amendment sometimes means that federal law pro-
foundly affects state family law. For example, some state laws regulating family re-
lations have been invalidated, and state domestic relations rules and statutes modi-
fied or enjoined by or because of the proper federal exercise of powers delegated by
the Constitution to the federal government. ^^
Because family law in the United States has developed separatelv within each
state, by its own local courts and local legislature, American family laws vary sig-
nificantly in both substance and procedure. 12 Family law is a prime example of the
"fifty different laboratories" idea of how federaUsm usually generates solutions to so-
cial problems much more quickly, how it preserves valuable cultural pluradism much
more effectively, and how it fosters individual liberty much more fufly than do cen-
tralized forms of governments. ^3 Thus, federalism in family law is a structural prin-
ciple required by the Constitution, and established by more than 200 years of prece-
dents, uiat is essential to the proper equilibrium of our government, and critical to
the well-being of families in our nation.
b. Full faith and credit
There is a second structural principle that operates to preserve the constitutional
balance and preserve the role and responsibilities of the states. That is the Full
Faith and Credit Clause. As the federalism principle polices the vertical relations
of the national government and the states, the full faith and credit principle polices
the horizontal relations of the states with each other. As the federalism principle
protects the integri'ty of the states from possible overreaching by the national gov-
ernment, the FuB Faith and Credit Clause protects the states from possible over-
reaching by each other. In a sense, federalism provides the longitudinal coordinate
and fulf faith and credit provides tiie latitudinal coordinate defining the position of
the states in the union under the compact of federation we call the Constitution.
Both principles function together like a gyroscope to define the relational position
of the states to each other and to the federal government, to protect and preserve
the position of each individual states and the national government within the con-
stitutional system that has functioned so successfully for so many generations in
this great country.
If the federal government encroached upon the authority of the states to regulate
family relations, that would distort the equilibrium along one axis, and if the states
encroached upon the family laws of each other that would damage the alignment
along the other dimension. If one state were to encroach upon the marriage law of
another and do so in the name of federal authority, that would be doubly distorting
and damaging. That threatening situation is developing right now. The situation
concerns a proposed radical redefinition of marriage (same-sex marriage) which one
state may adopt, and the attempt at mandatory imposition of that highly controver-
sial and revolutionary deconstruction of marriage upon all other states in the name
of the constitutionally-mandated marriage recognition principle of the Full Faith
and Credit Clause. Closely related to that is the problem of the potential to impose
same-sex marriage on federal law and programs by interpretation of ambiguous
terms in federal laws as including same-sex marriage. These are the problems to
which S. 1740 is addressed.
Congress need not pretend to be blind to the cunning tactics of same-sex marriage
advocates who would destroy the delicate equilibrium of our federal system by using
federal laws (federal full faith and credit law and the use of marriage terms in vp-
ious federal progrtims) to force the states and various federal agencies to recognize
and promote same-sex marriage. Congress has the authority to protect the states
"See, e.g., Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925): Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1
(1967); Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645 (1972); Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972); Zablocki
V. Redhail, 434 U.S. 374 (1978); Orr v. Orr, 440 U.S. 268 (1979); Kirchberg v. Feenstra. 450 U.S.
455 (1981); Pickett v. Brown, 462 U.S. 1 (1983); Idaho v. Wright, 497 UTS. 805 (1990). This is
not to suggest that the federal courts have never improperly crossed the federalism line in this
area and invalidated state family laws when the constitutional basis for federal authority is ten-
uous or lacking. Fortunately, perfection is not required of either the federal or state govern-
ments in order for the federal system to function generally well.
12 Of course, persuasive sister-state judicial opinions, effective legislation enacted in other
states, proposals for uniform legislation, federtd programs providing support and incentives for
states to take a particular policy position, federal constitutional standards, national media, na-
tional special interest influences, common cultural values, etc., have produced many multi-state
and national trends in the family laws of the various states. Nevertheless, despite these homog-
enizing influences the family laws of the American states remain remarkably diverse in policy
18 See generally Bruce C. Hafen, 'The Constitutional Status of Marriage, Kinship, and Sexual
Privacy— Balancing the Individual and Social Interests," 81 Mich. L. Rev. 463-476-484 (1983).
26-513 96-3
30
and federal programs from this impending abuse of federal law, and it shoiild use
its authority to protect the balance of our Constitution.
c. Congress' authority to protect State sovereignty from other States' intrusion
There is no doubt that the Constitution has a "special concern" for protecting "the
autonomy of the individual States within their respective spheres." ^* This concern
is especially acute when it concerns matters of state domestic relations law. S. 1740
is designed to protect the states' sovereign ability to determine for themselves
whether to recognize same-sex marriages. It does this by closing two avenues of fed-
eral law that have been singled out by gay and lesbian strategists as means of im-
posing same-sex marriage on all states if any one state chooses to legalize same-
sex marriage. DOMA prevents states that legalize same-sex marriage from forcing
their policy on other states. It protects the fiindamental constitutional notion that
"[n]o state can legislate except with reference to its own jurisdiction." ^^
The Supreme Court of the United States has noted that Congress has a "substan-
tial interest" in "balancing the interests" of the several states by "prevent[ing] [a
state's] policy from dictating" what the legal policy of other states will be.i^ For ex-
ample, in United States v. Edge Broadcasting Co.,^'' the Supreme Coiu*t upheld a
federal restriction on speech — a statute forbidding broadcasters from carrying adver-
tisements for lotteries if lotteries were forbidden in the state in which the broad-
caster was located — in order to vindicate the sovereignty of each state to determine
its own lottery rules. In Edge the broadcaster who challenged the law was located
in North Carohna, which prohibited lotteries, but 90 percent of its listeners lived
in Virginia, where the lottery was legal. Even though the overwhelming majority
of the listeners resided in a state whose public policy would not be violated by allow-
ing the lottery advertisements, the Court held that the "congressional policy of bal-
ancing the interests of lottery and nonlottery States" was a "substantial govern-
mental interest" that justified even the prohibition of free speech in this instance, i®
The Court further endorsed the "substantial federal interest in supporting North
Carolina's laws making lotteries illegal," and "preventing] Virginia's lottery policy
from dictating" what advertisements would be carried on stations located in another
state. i» The Court approved the enforcement of the federal law because it "advances
the governmental interest in enforcing the restriction in nonlottery States, while not
interfering with the policy of lottery States Uke Virginia." 20 The Court specifically
approved congressional action "to accommodate non-lottery States' interest in dis-
couraging public participation in lotteries, even as they accommodate the counter-
vailing interests of lottery States." 21
DOMA responds to the Court's explicit concern that:
[t]o vest the power of determining the extraterritorial effect of a State's own
laws and judgments in the [first] State itself risks the very kind of paro-
chial entrenchment on the interests of other States that it was the purpose
of the Full Faith and Credit Clause and other provisions of Art. IV of the
Constitution to prevent.22
It neutrally protects the balance of interests between the interested states.
Edge shows clearly how appropriate and important it is for Congress to enact S.
1740. We must acknowledge the "substantial federal interest in supporting [state]
laws [prohibiting same-sex marriage]" and "prevent[ing] [one state's same-sex mar-
riage] policy from dictating" what marriages are recognized in another state.23 The
Court should uphold DOMA because it "advances the governmental interest in en-
forcing the restriction in [non-same-sex-marriage] States, while not interfering with
the policy of [same-sex marriage] States," 24 and because the law is designed "to ac-
commodate non-[same-sex marriage] States' interest in discouraging [same-sex mar-
^*Healy v Beer Institute, 491 U.S. 324, 335-336 (footnote omitted); see also BMW of North
America, Inc. v. Gore, 116 S.Ct. 1589, 1597 (1996).
i^Bonaparte v. Tax Court, 104 U.S. 592, 594 (1881).
16 United States v. Edge Broadcasting Co., 509 U.S. 418 (1993).
i'509 U.S. 418(1993).
18 509 U.S. at 428.
19 509 U.S. at 429.
20509 U.S. at 430.
21 509 U S at 434
^^ Washington Gas Light Co. v. Thomas, 448 U.S. 261, 272 (1980) (citing Nevada v. Hall, 440
U.S. 410, 424-425 (1979).
23 509 U.S. at 429.
2*509 U.S. at 430.
31
riage], even as they accommodate the countervailing interests of [same-sex mar-
riage] States." 25
a. The need for section 2
The question addressed by Section 2 is whether one state, by choosing to legalize
same-sex marriage, can legislate for all other states. The strategy of same-sex mar-
riage advocates to use federal full faith and credit rules to impose same-sex mar-
riage recognition on all states is an open secret. This tactic threatens the very fed-
er^ structure and unity of our Nation.
If one state legalizes same-sex marriage (for example, let us suppose that Hawaii
were to legalize same-sex marriage), it is certain that many homosexual couples
from many other states would go the Hawaii, get married in Hawaii, then return
back to the states they came from and demand that those states recognize their
"marriage" for purposes of the second state's laws (e.g., for purposes of marriage,
divorce, adoption, custody, guardianship, visitation, health, education, alimony,
property division, state taxes, probate, wills, trusts and estate law, etc.). Many
same-sex couples living and married in Hawaii also, in time, would move to other
states and demand recognition of their marriages by the other states. Lawsuits
would be filed by same-sex marriage advocates demanding that the courts order the
second state to recognize same-sex marriages from Hawaii even if the second state
explicitly prohibited same-sex marriage. The gay or lesbian couples would argue
that the full-faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution compels all states to
recognize a same-sex marriage if such marriages are legal in the state of celebra-
tion. If the couple had obtained a judicial decree recognizing their relationship as
a marriage or awarding legal rights arising out of a marital relationship, they would
have an even stronger argument that existing federal full faith and credit principles
compel all states to recognize their same-sex marriages, even if that violated the
pubuc policy of the second state.
In recent years, especially since 1990, quite a number of same-sex marriage advo-
cates have written law review articles asserting that if Hawaii or any other state
legalizes same-sex marriage, all other states would be required by the Full Faith
and Credit Clause of the Constitution to recognize same-sex marriage. In other
words, if any state were to legalize same-sex marriage, they would force all other
states to recognize same-sex marriages through the federal Full Faith and Credit
Clause. For example, in a recent law review article Deborah M. Henson argues that
"the Supreme Court has allowed far too much laxity with the full faith and credit
mandate." ^e She believes that Article IV, § 1 should and can be interpreted to com-
pel other states to recognize same-sex marriage if Hawaii or some other state legal-
izes same-sex marriage.^'' Severed other writers in law review and other publications
have made simileir arguments calling for "invigorating" the Full Faith and Credit
Clause to require states to recognize same-sex marriages,^^ asserting compulsory
recognition and enforcement in ^1 states of "marital decrees" recognizing same-sex
marriages,29 or asserting that "[i]f Hawaii legalizes same-sex marriages, the effects
will be felt across the country since other states must recognize gay marriages per-
formed in Hawaii under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitu-
tion." 30 Likewise, one of the leading gay-rights advocates, Evan Wolfson, has writ-
ten that "full faith and credit recognition [of same-sex marriages] is mandated by
the plan meaning of the Full Faith and Credit Clause, and by basic federalist im-
26 509 U.S. at 434.
26 Deborah M. Henson, "Will Same Sex Marriages be Recognized in Sister States?: Full Faith
and Credit and Due Process Limitation on States Choice of Law Regarding the Status and Inci-
dents of Homosexual Marriage Following Hawaii's Baehr v. Levin," 32 U. Louisville J. Fam. L.
551, 584 (1993-1994) (hereinafter "Henson").
a'/d. at 584-590.
28 Nancy Khngeman and Kenneth May, "For Better or For Worse, In Sickness and in Health,
Until Death do Us Part: A Look at Same-Sex Marriage in Hawaii," 16 U. Haw. L. Rev. 447 (ac-
tual pg. # not on WL, but at West Law 16 UHILR 447, it is on pp. 40-45).
29Habib A. Balian, Note, 'Til Death Do Us Part: Granting Full Faith and Credit to Marital
Status," 68 S. Cal. L. Rev. 397, 401, 406-408 (1995).
30 Anne M. Burton, Note, "Gay Marriage— A Modem Proposal: Applying Baehr v. Lewin to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," 3 Ind. J. Global Legal Stud. 177, 195
(1995); but see id. n.22. See further Evan Wolfson, "Crossing the Threshold: Equal Marriage
Rights for Lesbians and Gay Men and the Intra-Community Debate," 21 N.Y.U. Rev. L. & Soc.
Change 567, 612 n. 196 (1994-95) (referring to another forthcoming article arguing that Full
Faith and Credit mandates interstate recognition of same-sex marriage). Barbara J. Cox, "Same
Sex Marriage and Choice of Law: If We Marry in Hawaii are We Still Married When We Return
Home?", 1994 Wis. L. Rev. 1033, 1041 n.23 (1994). Similar claims are made in non-legal lit-
erature; but I confine myself herein to reviewing the law reviews.
32
peratives,"^^ and argued that "if you're married, you're married; this is one country,
and you don't get a marriage visa when you cross a state border." ^^
This is not a speculative or trifling concern. It is a very serious matter to propose
to use federal authority (the Full Faith and Credit Clause) to force unwilling states
to recognize same-sex marriages. Yet that is precisely the tactic being pursued at
the present time.
The gravity of this concern is evidenced by the fact that within the past year and
a half, legislatures in fifteen states — nearly one-third of the states in the country —
have enacted laws to prohibit same-sex marriage and to declare provisions tnat
same-sex marriages will not be recognized in those states, even if entered into in
a state where they are legal.33 Most of these laws have been enacted during the past
six months. Similar proposals are still pending in several state legislatures, and ad-
ditional states £u-e certain to consider like legislation next year.
Additionally, there is substantial concern that some states or courts will interpret
the federal Full Faith and Credit rules one way, and others another way, creating
enormous confusion in federal law. Moreover, there will undoubtedly be enormous
resentment and backlash against Washington and the federal government if the
radical interpretation (that federal Full Faith and Credit requires states to recog-
nize same-sex marriage) proposed by some of the law review writers is accepted.
Moreover, "the State of Hawaii is concerned that adoption of same-sex marriage in
Hawaii would render not only same-sex marriages authorized in Hawaii under such
law unenforceable in other States or elsewhere, but would render all Hawaii mar-
riages unenforceable in one or more jurisdictions." ^^ Thus, there clearly is a need
for this legislation.
b. Need for section 3
Same-sex marriage advocates have already argued in several cases (such as immi-
gration cases) for inclusion of same-sex marriages as "marriages" are defined in fed-
eral law. If a state legalizes same-sex marriage that pressure will only grow and
intensify. It would be naive not to expect that some courts and agencies, given the
opportunity, would interpret federal laws using the terms "marriage" and "spouse"
to include same-sex couples who were married in a state that allowed such mar-
riages. Congress needs to speak now and clearly.
For example, it is reasonable in the absence of any other indication to presume
that Congress generally intended when it used a "marriage" term to include any
type of marriage that the states allowed — ^to defer to ana simply incorporate the
state definition of marriage. When defining domestic relations terms for federal law,
covuts often apply a presumption that the federal law intended to adopt the state
law definition of the domestic relations term. For example, in an oft-cited case, the
Fifth Circuit had to find a definition of "widow," for purposes of the Federal Employ-
ees Group Life Insurance Act.^^ Forty years ago, in De Sylva v. Ballentine,^^ the
Supreme Court suggested that federal courts should look to state law in defining
terms describing familial relations, because "there is no federal law of domestic rela-
tions, which is primarily a matter of state concern." ^7
siEvein Wolfson, Director of the Marriage Project (Lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund, Inc., "Winning and Keeping Eaual Alarrlage Rights: What Will Follow Victory in Baehr
V. Lewin? A Summary of Legal Issues' at 4 (March 20, 1996).
32 Evan Wolfson, Director, The Marriage Project (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund,
Inc., "Winning and Keeping tie Freedom to Marry for Same-Sex Couples — What Lies Ahead
After Hawaii, What Tasks Must We Begin Now?" at 2 (April 19, 1996).
33 See 1996 Alaska Sess. Laws 21; 1996 Arizona Sess. Laws 348; 1995 Delaware House Bill
503 (Approved by the Governor June 21, 1996); Georgia Code Ann. § 19-3-3.1 (1996); Idaho
Code §32-209 (1996); 1996 Illinois Laws 459; 1995 Kansas S.B. 515 (Approved by Governor Apr.
10, 1996); 1995 Michigan House BiU 5662 (Approved by the Governor June 25, 1996) and 1995
Michigan Senate Bill 937 (Approved by the Governor June 25, 1996); Missouri S.B. 758 (enacted
May 1996); 1995 North Carolina Sess. Laws 588; 1995 Oklahoma S.B. 73 (Approved by Governor
Apr. 29, 1996); South Carolina House Bill 4502 (same-sex marriage against public policy of
state); South Dakota Cod. Laws Ann. §25-1-1 (1996); 1995 Tennessee Senate Bill 2305 (ap-
proved by Governor May 15, 1996); Utah Code Ann. 30-1-4 (1995). The Colorado legislature also
passed a marriage nonrecognition bill, but the Governor vetoed it. 1996 Colorado House Bill
1291 (final amended version— 12 Mar. 1996). Passed the House— 28 Feb. 1996 (the vote was 33-
31). Passed the Senate— 12 Mar. 1996 (the vote was 20-14). Vetoed by Governor— 25 Mar. 1996.
Lexis, July 2, 1996.
^*Baehr v. Lewin, Civil No. 91-1394-05, "Defendant's Response to Plaintiffs' First Request
for Answers to Interrogatories," 8 (Dec. 17, 1993).
^^Spearman v. Spearman, 482 F.2d 1203 (1973). Id. at 1204. See also Metropolitan Life Insur.
Co. V. Jackson, 896 F.Supp. 318 (S.D.N.Y. 1995).
86 351 U.S. 570(1956).
3'/d. at 580.
33
That presumption has its limits — the limits of what Congress reasonably had in
mind wnen it used the generic marriage term. Thus, Supreme Court in De Sylva
noted that federal law would not incorporate into federal the state law definition
of a family relations term if a state denned the word "in a way entirely strange to
those fanuhsir with its ordinary usage * * *."38 There is no question that the 'ordi-
nary usage" of the term "marriage" does not include same-sex unions. Moreover, as
a matter of legislative intent, it is undisputable that when Congress has approved
legislation using marriage terms, same-sex unions were never contemplated. The
fact that the federal law was passed when such marriages were not only not allowed
but in most cases when such marriages were not even seriously considered, plus the
persisting strong policy in many states against such unions would provide ample
evidence that it would not be consistent with Congressional intent to include same-
sex unions within the meaning of those familial terms. "Aberrant" state definitions
of domestic relations terms, such as defining marriage to include same-sex unions,
"do not provide appropriate standards for federal law. ' ^^
Additionally, in many federal programs, uniformity in the definition of a critical
term throughout the country is more important than accommodating diversity. As
Justice Douglas observed in De Sylva: "Congress could of course give [a domestic
relations term] the meaning it has under tne laws of the several States. * * *
But * ♦ * the statutory policy of protecting dependents would be better served by
uniformity, rather than by the diversity which would flow from incorporating into
the Act the laws of forty-eight States." "^^ Further, there is a danger that federal law
and programs may be impaired if state law definitions of critical terms is always
controlling.''^ For these reasons, the Supreme Court has observed: "We start * * *
with the general assumption that in the absence of a plain indication to the con-
trary, ♦ * * Congress when it enacts a statute is not making the application of the
federal act dependent on state law."'*^
The reasonable presumption that when using marriage terms in federal legisla-
tion Congress generally intended to incorporate the relevant "ordinary" state defini-
tion of marriage underscores the need for Congress to clarify that it does not intend
to include same-sex unions when it uses marriage terms in federal laws. In the ab-
sence of clear language like that contained in DOMA, courts could rule that same-
sex unions valid in just one state must be deemed marriages for purposes of federal
statutes, regulations, programs, and agencies. That could create a transportable
marriage status, good wherever federal law applies in all 50 states.
Section 3 does not interfere with the ability of the states to define and regulate
marriage for themselves. Nor does it deprive Congress of the ability to define mar-
riage some other way in any particular legislation if Congress were to decide that
for some particular program even same-sex unions should be included as marriages.
Section 3 only sets tne default definition, the general standard. Since the actual pre-
sumption of both history and of contemporary American society is that marriage
does not entail same-sex couples, that presumption is the only reasonable presump-
tion.
Allowing federal laws and programs to be construed to include same-sex unions
as marriages would be extremely divisive. Transporting same-sex marriages from
one state to another for purpose of federal laws (possibly as broad as social security,
pension laws, tax laws, bankruptcy laws, commercial laws, public assistance pro-
grams, etc.). That would create conflict and resentment in states with strong policies
in favor of heterosexual marriage only. It would have the effect of imposing same-
sex marriage upon the states to the extent that state laws and programs are inte-
grated with federal laws (for instance AFDC programs, medicaid and medicare pro-
grams, pension laws, etc.). Given the intense feelings that could be aroused by such
a cram-down of same-sex marriage upon the states, that could weaken and severely
undermine the cohesiveness of (if not begin the dismemberment of) the union.
Moreover, this is the kind of issue that is best resolved before the cases arise.
Waiting until after some state legalizes same-sex marriage and a flood of cases are
filed demanding that same-sex unions formed in such a state be treated as "mar-
riages" for purposes of federal laws would be very unwise. It would invite a mul-
39 United States v. Little Lake Misere Land Company, Inc., 412 U.S. 580, 596 (1973).
*°Id. at 583 (Douglas, J., concurring) (citing Clearfield Trust Co. v. United States, 318 U.S.
363, 367; National Metropolitan Bank v. United States, 323 U.S. 454, 456; Heiser v. Woodruff,
327 U.S. 726, 732; United States v. Standard Oil Co., 332 U.S. 301, 307).
*^ Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holy field, 490 U.S. 30, 43 (1989).
*2/d. at 43 (citing Jerome v. United States, 318 U.S. 101, 104, 63 S.Ct. 483, 485, 87 L.Ed.
640 (1943); NLRB v. Natural Gas Utility Dist. of Hawkins County, 402 U.S. 600, 603, 91 S.Ct.
1746, 1749, 29 L.Ed.2d 206 (1971); Dickerson v. New Banner Institute, Inc., 460 U.S. 103, 119,
103 S.Ct. 986, 995, 74 L.Ed.2d 845 (1983).
34
titude of unnecessary litigation, and create confusion, inconsistency, and unfairness.
Different covirts in d.ifFerent districts and circuits might reach contradictory conclu-
sions adding to the uncertainty. It could put at risk a number of couples. For exam-
ple, what would be the situation of a same-sex couple who marry where it is legal
and begin to get a federal benefit based on the interpretation of the term "marriage"
in the local law if that couple moved to another jurisdiction where the court had
ruled that such unions are not "marriages" for purposes of federal law? Clearly, the
wisest interpretative course to follow would be to decline to incorporate that radical
redefinition of "marriage" into federal law. And equally clearly, it is best to clarify
this in advance.
Section 3 clarifies the congressional intent that for the specific purposes of federal
law, same-sex unions are not deemed "marriages," even if for purposes of some
state's laws they are considered marriages. That is the most accurate historical defi-
nition, the most reasonable, and the most consistent with public understanding and
expectations.
Section 3 eliminates what could be a lot of very messy and costly litigation for
the federal government. It clarifies any ambiguity that would arise about the mean-
ing of "marriage" in federal law should a state legalize same-sex marriage. To fail
to make that clarification at this time would leave the federal laws and courts very
vulnerable to a protracted same-sex marriage litigation campaign that can and
should be avoided
III. THE POWER OF CONGRESS TO ENACT S. 1740
a. Power of Congress to enact section 2 ofDOMA
There is no serious doubt that Congress has the power to enact legislation defin-
ing the "effect" of other states' laws, records and judgments. Sentence two of the
FiSl Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution (Article IV, § 1) explicitly provides
that "[TJhe Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such
Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof" The Congres-
sional Research Service of the Library of Congress has stated: "Congress has the
power under the clause to decree the effect that the statutes of one State shall have
in other States." ''^ A host of scholarly authority for many decades concurs with this
assessment."*"*
The power of Congress to enact such legislation was also recognized recently when
the American Law Institute proposed that Congress enact federal statutory choice
of law rules to govern complex litigation.'"' The Reporter noted that "Article IV, § 1,
directly authorizes Congress to enact a statute specifying how to resolve conflicts
between differing, but arguably applicable, laws from two or more states * * *.""'*'
Supreme Court precedent supports the authority of Congress to enact S. 1740. In
Sun Oil Co. V. Wortman,*'^ for example, the Court noted: "that Congress [can] legis-
late to that effect under the second sentence of the Full Faith and Credit Clause
* * *." Similarly in Sherrer v. Sherrer, Justice Frankfurter declared: "We cannot
draw on the available power for social invention afforded by the Constitution for
dealing adequately with the problem, because the power belongs to the Congress
and not to tne Court." "^^ Also, in Pacific Employers Ins. Co. v. Industrial Accident
Comm'n.'^^ the Court observed:
And in the case of statutes, the extrastate effect of which Congress has
not prescribed, as it may under the constitutional provision, we think the
conclusion is unavoidable that the fiill faith and credit clause does not re-
quire one state to substitute for its own statute, applicable to persons and
events within it, the conflicting statute of another state, even though that
statute is of controlling force in the courts of the state of its enactment with
respect to the same persons and events.
*« Congressional Research Service, "The Constitution of the United States of America, Analy-
sis and Interpretation," 869-870 (1987).
*4See, e.g., Douglas Laycock, "Equal Citizens of Equal and Territorial States: The Constitu-
tional Foundations of Choice of Law," 92 Colum. L. Rev. 249, 301 (1992); Michael H. Gottesman,
"Draining the Dismal Swamp: The Case for Federal Choice of Law Statutes," 80 Geo. L.J. 1,
24-26 (1991); Walter Wheeler Cook, 'The Powers of Congress Under the Full Faith and Credit
Clause," 24 Yale L.J. 421 (1919); Brainerd Currie, "Full Faith and Credit Chiefly to Judgments:
A Role for Congress," 1964 Sup. Ct. Rev. 89. j , . ..
■♦* American Law Institute, "Complex Litigation: Statutory Recommendations and Analysis,
(1994).
*^Id. at 311 (Chapter 6 Introductory Note, Reporter's Note to cmnt. b).
*U86U.S. 717, 729(1988).
«334 U.S. 343, 366 (1947) (Frankfurter, J., dissenting).
'»9 306 U.S. 493, 502 (1939) (emphasis added).
35
More than one hundred eighty years ago, the Supreme Court in Mills v. Duryee,^°
noted: "It is manifest however that the constitution contemplated a power in con-
gress to give a conclusive effect to such judgments." Thus, it is clear that Congress
has the authority under the Constitution to declare the "effect" which the acts,
records or judicial proceedings of states that legalize same-sex marriage must be
given in other states, and that is precisely what Section 2 of S. 1740 would do.
Likewise, it is my professional opinion that it wovild not violate the Full Faith and
Credit Clause (article IV, section 1) of the Constitution for a second state to refuse
to recognize a same-sex marriage or declaratory judgment legalized in Hawaii or
some other state when the second state has a strong public policy against same-sex
marriage, at least when the same-sex couple lives in or has some other significant
contact with the second state.^^ I believe that constitutional text, history, and case
precedents, from the adoption of the Tenth Amendment in 1791 until now, support
the right of the second state in such a case constitutionally to refuse to recognize
the same-sex marriage, if it chose to do so, or to recognize the same-sex marriage,
if it chose to do so. The Full Faith and Credit Clause would not force the state ei-
ther way.
The basis for my general opinion is the text and history of the Full Faith and
Credit Clause, and a long-established hne of decisions by the Supreme Court of the
United States establishing a permissible scope for nonrecognition.''^ For example, in
60 11 U.S. (7 Cranch) 481, 485 (1813) (emphasis added).
61 However, a significant contact between the second state and the case, parties, or matter in
controversy is required and a significant pubUc poUcy conflict in the second state is necessary
before DOMA authorizes a state to decline to enforce an act, record of judgment of same-sex
marriage from another state. It would be extremely rare for a case to arise in a second state
(for it to have jurisdiction) and for it not to have a significant contact sufficient to justify appli-
cation of its own strong policy against recognizing same-sex marriage. See generally Healy, 491
U.S. at 337, n.l3 (jurisdiction and legislative standards similar). However, if such a rare case
occurred, in which the second state was totally without any significant contacts or strong public
policy, and the only interested state recognized same-sex marriage, full faith and credit might
arguably preclude nonrecognition.
"See, e.g., Thomas v. Washington Gas Light Co., 448 U.S. 261, 285 (1980) ("We simply con-
clude that the substantial interests of the second State in these circumstances should not be
overridden by another State through an unnecessarily aggressive application of the Full Faith
and Credit Cflause, as was imphcitly recognized at the time of McCartin."); Neuacto v. Hall, 440
U.S. 410, 421-422 (1979) ("But this Court's decision in Pacific Insurance Co. v. Industrial Acci-
dent Comm'n, 306 U.S. 493, clearly establishes that the Full Faith and Credit Clause does not
require a State to apply another State's law in violation of its ovwi legitimate public policy.");
Carroll v. Lanza, 349 U.S. 408, 412 (1955) ("The Court proceeded on the premise, repeated over
and again in the cases, that the Full Faith and Credit Clause does not require a State to sub-
stitute for its own statute, applicable to persons and events within it, the statute of another
State reflecting a conflicting and opposed policy." (citing Pacific Ins. Co. at 502)); Hughes v. Fet-
ter, 341 U.S. 609, 611 (1951) ("We have reco^zed, however, that full faith and credit does not
automatically compel a forum state to subordinate its own statutory pohcy to a conflicting public
act of another state; rather, it is for this Court to choose in each case between the competing
pubUc poUcies involved."); Gnffin v. McCoach, 313 U.S. 498, 507 (1941) ("Where this Court has
required the state of the forum to apply the foreign law under the full faith and credit clause
or under the Fourteenth Amendment, it has recognized that a state is not required to enforce
a law obnoxious to its public policy."); Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Elec. Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 498 (1941)
("The full faith and credit clause does not go so far as to compel Delaware to apply § 480 if such
application would interfere with its local policy."); Alaska Packers Assn. v. Industrial Accident
Comm'n. of California, 294 U.S. 532, 546 (1935) ("It has often been recognized by this Court
that there are some limitations upon the extent to which a state will be required by the full
faith and credit clause to enforce even the judgment of another state, in contravention of its
ovm statutes or poUcy."); Bradford Electric Light Co. v. Clapper, 286 U.S. 145, 159 (1932) ("It
is true that the full faith and credit clause does not require the enforcement of every right con-
ferred by a statute of another State. There is room for some play of conflicting poUcies.") ("I
can find nothing in the history of the full faith and credit clause, or the decisions under it, which
lends support to the view tiat it compels any state to subordinate its domestic policy, with re-
spect to persons and their acts within its borders, to the laws of any other.") (Stone, J., concur-
nng at 164); Pacific Insurance Co. v. Industrial Accident Comm'n, 306 U.S. 493 (1939) (whole
case). See also Vanderbilt v. Vanderbilt, 354 U.S. 416, 426 (1957) ("It is true that the commands
of the Full Faith and Credit Clause are not inexorable in the sense that exceptional cir-
cumstances may relieve a State from giving full faith and credit to the judgment of a sister
State because 'obnoxious' to an overriding policy of its own.") (Frankfurter, J., dissenting); Mor-
ris v. Jones, 329 U.S. 545, 558 (1946) (''But the Full Faith and Credit Clause does not imply
that a judgment validly procured in one State is automatically enforceable in another, quite re-
gardless of the consequences of such enforcement upon that State's policy in matters peculiarly
wathin its control.") (Frankfurter, J., dissenting); Williams v. North Carolina I, 317 U.S. 287,
296 (1942) ("Nor is there any authority which lends support to the view that the full faith and
credit clause compels the courts of one state to subordinate the local policy of that state, as re-
spects its domiciUaries, to the statutes of any other state.") ("We have recognized an area of
Continued
36
Allstate Insurance Co. v. Hague, ^^ the Court approved the application of a forum
state's law in a case in which another state clearly had the ^eater weight of con-
tacts with tiie parties and incidents giving rise to the legal issue. The Court held
that the forum state could apply its own law so long as it had "significant contact
or a significant aggregation of contacts" with the p£irties and the occurrence or
transaction to which it is applying its law-^* That doctrine is reflected in many other
Supreme Court decisions dating back many decades.^^ Moreover, it is worth noting
that even the state of Hawaii, where the same-sex marriage controversy is centered
in both the state courts and the state legislature, has officially taken the position
in the pending Baehr litigation about same-sex marriage that "it may reasonably
be expected that, at a minimum, other jurisdictions will not recognize Hawaii same-
sex marriages as valid * * *."^^ From this perspective. Section 2 states the obvious
and some could very reasonably ask why it is even necessary.
In the case of a judicial decree, the Question is closer under existing case law, be-
cause there are added considerations finaUty and iudicial efiiciencv. In that situa-
tion, the strong interest of the second state in applying its own pubhc policy would
have to be shown, and the public policy of the second state against same-sex mar-
riage would have to be very clear, and very deeply-held. For example, to continue
the earlier hypothetical, suppose a same-sex couple from Utah flew to Hawaii, got
married, got a declaratory judgment of the validity of their marriage (or possibly
some judicial declaration of a legal entitlement based on the status of marriage),
then returned to Utah (which by statute prohibits same-sex marriage and explicitly
prohibits recognition of same-sex marriage even if legal where performed) and de-
manded that Utah recognize their marriage or that incident of their marriage. In
my opinion the interest of Utah in not recognizing that evasive marriage that would
flaunt and undermine a strong pubUc policy of Utah (which strongly favors and pro-
tects heterosexual marriage exclusively) would be sufficient to justify Utah's refusal
to recognize the same-sex marriage. 'The Fxill Faith and Credit Clause of the Con-
stitution "does not make a sister-State judgment a judgment in another State. The
proposal to do so was rejected by the Philadelphia Convention. 2 Farrand, The
Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, 447, 448. 'To give it the force of a judg-
ment in another state, it must be made a judgment there.' McElmoyle v. Cohen, 13
Pet 312 325."^'
The argument recently asserted that because S. 1740 is phrased in negative (non-
recognition) instead of positive (recognition) language is specious. The "effect" of
acts, records and judgments fi-om the states, which the Constitution gives Congress
the power to define, can be stated either way. For example, in Thompson v. Thomp-
son,^^ the Court approved the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738
A ("PKPA"), another "effects" clause enactment. The PKPA defines three iurisdic-
tional bases upon which custody decrees will be entitled to full faith and credit.
That means that states are free not to recognize (or to recognize, as they choose)
custody decrees founded on other bases of jurisdiction. The fact that the PKPA
clearly has that "negative" dimension has not impaired its constitutionality in the
The Supreme Court has repeatedly indicated that Congress has the power not
only to determine when acts, records and judgments fi-om the states are to be given
full faith and credit (positive) but also to determine when they are not to be given
full faith and credit (negative). For example, in several cases the Court has had to
determine whether certain state proceedings resolving discrimination claims must
be given full faith and credit so as to preclude later federal coiul Utigation of civil
rights claims. Invariably, the Court earnestly tries to determine what effect Con-
gress intended— whether full faith and credit must be given.^^ Often, it finds that
flexibility in the application of the Clause to preserve and protect state policies in matters of
vital public concern. ) (Mxirphy, J., dissenting at 309).
"449 U.S. 302(1981).
66 See, e.g., Carroll v. Lanza, 349 U.S. 409, 413-14 (1955); Richards v. United States, 362 U.S.
1, 15 (1962); Nevada v. Hall. 440 U.S. 410 (1979); Griffin v. McCoach, 313 U.S. 498, 506 (1941);
Pacific Employers Insurance Co. v. Industrial Accident Commission, 306 U.S. 493 (1939).
^^Baehr v. Lewin, Civil No. 91-1394-05, "Defendant's Response to Plaintiffs' First Request
for Answers to Interrogatories," 8, 9 (Dec. 17, 1993).
li-' Williams v. North Carolina (II), 325 U.S. 226, 229 (1945).
B8 484 U.S. 174(1988). „ , ,„ .
^^ Negative congressional intent (no required effect): Astoria Federal Savings & Loan Associa-
tion V. Solimino, 504 U.S. 104, 109-111 (1991) (impUed congressional intent of no preclusion
for ADEA actions); University of Tennessee v. Elliott, 478 U.S. 788, 795 (1986) (implied conces-
sional intent of no preclusion for Title VII actions). See also Chandler v. Roudebush, 425 U.b.
840 (1976) (Congress' implied intent not to bar trial de novo on his Title VII claim); Brown v.
37
intent implied, and it applies that implied Congressional intent, whether positive (to
command full faith and credit) or negative (no full faith and credit, no preclusion).6o
If the role of Congress in determining what "effect" state court proceedings are to
be given is so important that the Supreme Coxirt laboriously searches for and fol-
lows mere implied congressional intent, whether positive or negative, it stands to
reason that Congress has the power to expressly declare that certain state acts,
records and judgments will not have compulsory effect.
The critics' assertion that only positive legislation is permitted would reduce the
Pull Faith and Credit clause to a mere rhetorical rule that signifies nothing because
any rule, including the marriage recognition rule of S. 1740, may be state either in
positive or negative terms. For example. Congress might achieve essentially the
same result by declaring that marriages between a man and a woman that are valid
in the state where performed must be recognized in other states, or all marriages
vaUd where performed must be recognized unless they violate the strong public pol-
icy of the other state.
Finally, S. 1740 does not interfere with the Supreme Coxirt's responsibility and
authority to interpret the Constitution. While Article IV gives Congress substantial
authority to set the standard for full faith and credit, if Congress were to "cut back
on the measure of faith and credit required by a decision of [the] Court" an unre-
solved question about constitutionality might arise.^^ But no Supreme Court deci-
sion has ruled that states must recognize (absolutely, in all cases, regardless of com-
peting public policy interests) marriages created in other states. Indeed, the critics
of DOMA contradict themselves here, for they assert that DOMA is unnecessary be-
cause states are not constitutionally required to recognize same-sex marriage if they
violate strong public policy of the other states.«2 Section 2 of the Act merely codifies
and clarifies the existing constitutional rule, it does not repeal or contradict it.
b. Congressional authority to enact section 3
The power of Congress to adopt legislation like Section 3 of S. 1740 is also clear
(although there are some exceptions that could cause confusion if care is not taken
to remember the very narrow scope and application of the provision). The principle
of federalism has two dimensions. Just as it defines and protects the role of the
states within the hybrid state-federal system, it also defines and protects the role
of the federal government within the same hybrid system. The states cannot dictate
to the federal government how it must regulate behavior, define terms, what stand-
ards it will use to grant or restrict benefits in federal programs, agencies and laws.
For example. Congress has established a taxation system that gives particular
benefits to "married couples, and it is federal law (incorporating some state law as
a matter of federal choice) that defines what "married" means for purposes of the
federal tax system.^^ This is true even though the direct regulation of marriage is
clearly outside of the scope of federal authority. While states have the sole and ex-
clusive authority to regulate domestic relations within the state, the federal govern-
ment has the sole and exclusive authority to regulate the federal tax svstem.^'*
When the federal government uses the term "marriage" or "married" in federal tax
law, it is not creating marriage or domestic relations law; it is creating tax law. It
may define the term marriage" however it chooses (within other constitutional lim-
its) for purposes of the tax law, in light of the policies and objectives underlying the
federal tax system.
Likewise, in Bankruptcy law, it is well-established that "what constitutes ali-
mony, maintenance, or support will be determined under the [federal] bankruptcy
Felsen, 442 U.S. 127, 136 (1979). Positive congressional intent (required preclusive effect): Kremer
V. Chemical Constr. Corp.. 456 U.S. 461 (1982) (Title VII); Migra v. Warren City School District
Board of Education, 465 U.S. 75 (1984); Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90 (1980) (1983 claims).
Sae also Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., 116 S.Ct. 873 (1996).
®^ Sc6 C6LS6S cited icZ.
o^Washington Gas Light Co. v. Thomas, 448 U.S. 261, 272 n.l8 (1980) (plurality opinion).
82 See Laurence H. Tribe, 'Toward a Less Perfect Union," N.Y. Times, May 26, 1996, at *;
42 Cong^ Rec. S5931-01, 1996 3024425 (Cong. Rec), June 6, 1996 (letter from Professor Tribe
to Sen. Edward Kennedy).
^For example, persons who are married under state law but are legally separated are not
treated as "married" for purposes of federal income tax law. I.R.C. §§71 (b), 7703(a)(2), (b). Like-
wise, a couple who consistently obtains a divorce at the end of the year to obtain "single" status
for tax filing, but remarries early the following year, will be considered "married" (regardless,
apparently, of state law). Rev. Rul. 76-255, 1976-2 C.B. 40.
** Congress and federal court often incorporate state domestic relations law definitions of fam-
ily law terminology used in federal laws and programs, but they do so as a matter of federal
law. The federal law-maker can change the definition when it wishes and depart from state law
when it wishes.
38
laws, not state law."65 For another example, federal immigration law give certain
valuable priorities and benefits to persons who are married to American citizens.
Congress, however, intended only to give those benefits to persons who have a bona
fide lifetime commitment marriage, not people who get married temporarily just to
get the immigration advantage. In some states, however, persons wno get married
solely to get an immigration advantage, who do not intend to live together as hus-
band and wife, may have a valid marriage under local marriage law. If that state
definition of "marriage" were imported into the federal immigration laws, it would
undermine the policy of the federal law and thwart the design of the federal immi-
gration system. Thus, Congress has deUberately defined in the immigration laws the
kinds of marriages to wWch it gives immigration benefits and that definition is
much more narrow than any of the states define marriage.®^ That is not an im-
proper regulation of marriage by Congress, because it is not really the regulation
of (wmestic relations at all. Rather, it is the regulation of federal immigration poUcy,
which is clearly within the constitutionally-delegated authority of the federal gov-
ernment.
In a related field dealing with divorce, a few years ago questions arose concerning
whether state courts could include certain federal retirement and disability benefits
when dividing marital or community property upon divorce. Division of property in-
cidental to divorce is another area of domestic relations long understood to be under
primary control of the states. When state courts in CaUfomia went ahead and in-
cluded those federal benefits in the division of the community property, however,
the Supreme Court of the United States reversed those judgments holding that the
control and division of federal pensions and employment benefits was governed by
federal law, and finding that Congress had not intended those benefits to be treated
as divisible community property.^' A short time later, Congress amended several of
the relevant federal laws to provide that railroad and military benefits may be di-
vided upon divorce as community or marital property, and went much further to re-
form what should be done with federal employment benefits when the federal em-
ployee is divorced or dies.^^ That legislation further underscored that the regulation
of federal benefits is a matter of federal law, even when it uses family terms or is
incorporated into state family property law and dissolution procedures.
These are just a few of hundreds of examples in which Congress or federal agen-
cies use marriage and other domestic relations terms in federal law and the mean-
ing of tiiose terms is ultimately determined as a matter of federal law.^^ The ques-
tion is what did Congress intend. This is not a novel principle, it is as old as our
Republic; it is well-estabUshed, settled doctrine.'^" It is settled by the Supremacy
Clause of the Constitution.
Conceptually, there is a profound difference between the power of states to define
and regulate the status of marriage and the extent to which state benefits, burdens,
programs, and privileges will be offered incidental to such status, and the power of
Congress to denne and regulate whether and to what extent some or any federal
benefits, programs, and privileges will be available to individuals, to married cou-
ples, to other couples, and to other groups. Section 3 of S. 1740 reaffirms and pro-
tects this federalist distinction.
«6H.R. Rep. No. 595, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 364 (1977), U.S. Code Cong. & Admin. News, 1978,
pp. 5785, 6319, cited in Harrell v. Harrell, 754 F.2d 902 (11th Cir. 1985); see also Williams v.
Williams, 703 F.2d 1055, 1056 (8th Cir. 1983) ("whether a particular debt is a support obligation
or part of a property settlement is a question of federal bankruptcy law, not state law."); Shaver
V. Shaver, 736 F.2D. 1314, 1316 (1984) (Bankruptcy courts look to Federal law, not state law
to determine whether an obligation is actually in the nature of alimony, maintenance or sup-
port).
««See, e.g., 8 U.S.C. §§ 1151(b), 1153-1155, 1186(a)(1), (b) (1988); Azizi v. Thornburgh, 908
F.2d 1130 (2d Cir. 1990); 1 Lynn D. Wardle, Christopher L. Blakesley, Jacqueline Y. Parker,
Contemporary Family Law, §2:30 (1988).
8' See Hisquidero v. Hisquidero, 439 U.S. 572 (1979); McCarty v. McCarty, 453 U.S. 210
(1981); Mansell v. Mansell, 490 U.S. 581 (1989).
88 See, e.g., 45 U.S.C. §231 (1986); 10 U.S.C. §1408 (1983 and Supp. 1995) see further 5
U.S.C. §8345(j) (1986); 22 U.S.C. §§4054, 4069 (1986); Brett R. Turner, ''Equitable Distribution
of Property," §6.06 (2d ed. 1994).
88 See generally Southern Pacific Transportation Co. v. United States, 462 F.Supp. 1193, 1208
(1978) (state laws that directly conflict with the purposes of the Federal Regulatory program
are inappropriate for adoption, and a court faced with conflicting state laws would adopt a Fed-
eral Rule); Burnett v. Gratton, 468 U.S. 42, 56 (1984) (the court is presented with this task be-
cause Congress has seen fit not to prescribe a specific statute of limitations to govern actions
under most of the Federal Civil rights statutes, instead directing courts to apply state law if
"not inconsistent" with Federal Law).
''OThis preemption principle is true in other areas of federal law as well. See, e.g.,
Schneidewind v. ANR Pipeline Co., 485 U.S. 293, 310 (1988) (natural gas regulation).
39
If Congress were attempting to impose the definition of "marriage" upon the
states, to make them use that definition in their marriage and domestic relations
laws, a serious constitutional issue would arise. In such cases, federal law super-
sedes state family law only upon a strict showing of deliberate preemption. As the
Supreme Court noted in Hisquierdo v. Hisquierdo: "On the rare occasion where
state family law has come into conflict with the federal statute, this Court has lim-
ited review under the Supremacy Clause to a determination whether Congress has
'positively required by direct enactment' that state law be pre-empted."'^ In
McCarty v. McCarty, the Court reiterated that "'[s]tate family and family-property
law must do 'major damage' to 'clear and substantial' federal interests before the
Supremacy Clause will demand that state law be overridden.' * * ♦."''2 Moreover,
"[a] mere conflict in words is not sufficient"; the question remains whether the "con-
sequences [of that community property right] sufficiently injure the objectives of the
federal program to require nonrecognition." "^^ Justice Rehnquist noted in his dissent
in McCarty that he could find only five instances in which that kind of preemption
(forcing federal standards upon state law) had occurred in the history of community
property disposition. '''' But this is not such a case. S. 1740 does not impose federal
law onto state law, but seeks to prevent the imposition of one specific possible state
law definition of marriage upon federal programs, laws, and agencies.
IV. DOMA EMBODIES WISE AND TOLERANT POUCY
S. 1740 embodies wise and tolerant public policy. There are compelling reasons
why every state in this country, and every nation in the world,'^ preserves the legal
status of marriage for committed heterosexual relationships. And there are compel-
ling reasons why Congress should protect the authority of each state to choose for
itself whether to recognize same-sex marriage.
The committed union of male and female to each other that we call marriage con-
tributes to society (and to the individuals) many benefits that are unmatched by any
other relationships, including committed same-sex relationships. In terms of provid-
ing the safest and most beneficial environment for the expression of sexual inti-
macy, the best context for procreation, the most protective and most beneficial social
arrangement for child-rearing, the most valuable relationship for encouraging fa-
therhood and motherhood, the most promising for enhancing the status of women,
the most secvtre family economic unit, the most stable and secvu-e basis for forging
intimate human interdependency, the best relationship for developing the unique
complimentary strengths of cross-gender union, and for many, many other reasons
proved and reproved over millenia of multi-cultured human experience the commit-
ted, formal union of a man and a woman in marriage is unequalled in its value and
contribution to society. Same-sex unions are not the same and do not make the
same contribution to society. As the California Supreme Court has observed:
Spouses receive special consideration from the state, for marriage is a
civil contract "of so solemn and binding a nature ♦ * * that the consent of
the parties alone will not constitute marriage * * * the consent of the state
is also required" [Citation.] Marriage is accorded this degree of dignity in
recognition that "[t]he joining of the man and woman in marriage is at once
the most socially productive and individually fulfilling relationship that one
can enjoy in the course of a lifetime." [cites omitted.]
Our emphasis on the state's interest in promoting the marriage relation-
ship is not based on anachronistic notions of morality. The policy favoring
marriage is "rooted in the necessity of providing an institutional basis for
defining the fundamental relational rights and responsibilities of persons in
organized society." (Laws v. Griep (Iowa 1983)) 332 N.W.2d 339, 341. For-
mally married couples are granted significant rights and bear important re-
71439 U.S. 572, 581 (1979) citing Wetmore v. Markoe, 196 U.S. 68, 77 (1904).
'2 453 U.S. 210, (1981) citing Hisquierdo, 439 U.S. at 581.
''^McCarty, 453 U.S. at (citing Hisquierdo, 439 U.S., at 581-583).
7M53U.S. at 237.
"5 Four nations, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland recognize same-sex domestic partner-
ships, but the legislatures in those countries very deliberately and clearly chose not to extend
the special status of "marriage" to homosexual unions. No nation recognizes same-sex marriage.
40
sponsibilities toward one another which are not shared by those who co-
habit without marriage.'''^
DOMA protects the ability of states to protect and preserve this critical social insti-
tution against competing intimate relationships that offer society much less, and
offer the nations' children much less than they need and deserve.
Tolerance and S. 1740
Some have argued that the states and Congress should recognize same-sex mar-
riage to show that they are tolerant of nontraditional, particularly homosexual, rela-
tionships. However, there is an important difference between "tolerance" and "pref-
erence. The law provides at least three different and distinct legal categories for
personal relations and actions: "prohibited relations and conduct," "permitted rela-
tionships and behavior," and "preferred relationships and conduct." The boundary
line between the fu^t and second category is "tolerance." The boundary line between
the second category and third category (preferred acts and relations) is the line of
"preference." Historically, homosexual relations have been consistently placed in the
prohibited category. Recently, there has been an apparent trend to move homo-
sexual behavior across the "tolerance" barrier, from the "prohibited" to the "per-
mitted" category. Thus, some homosexual relations have been decriminalized in
more than half of the states. But tolerating same-sex relationships is qviite a dif-
ferent thing from giving them preferred legal status.
Marriage is one of the oldest and most firmly-established types of preferred, spe-
cially-protected relations. Thus, the gay/lesbian demand that homosexual couples be
allowed to marry is a demand for special preferred status for homosexual relations.
There is widespread opposition to giving homosexual relations any special, preferred
status, even among many groups that are very sympathetic to gay and lesbian legal
status. For example, President Clinton's support for gay and lesbian legal stature
is well-known, yet he has stated that he does not support same-sex marriage.
DOMA does not violate Romer v. Evans
S. 1740 is easily distingviished from Colorado's Amendment Two that the Supreme
Court recently held unconstitutional in Romer v. Evans J"^ First, the Colorado
amendment classified and discriminated in law on the basis of "homosexual, lesbian
or bisexual orientation," and not solely on the basis of conduct, behavior or relation-
ship. How someone feels or thinks or believes, including one's feelings or beliefs re-
garding sexual attraction, interest, or orientation, is not a permissible basis for legal
discrimination; to legally classify persons on the basis of their "orientation" status
is constitutionally forbidden.''^ By contrast, DOMA does not discriminate on the
basis of any "orientation" but it is conduct (marriage) and action (actual same-sex
relationships) that are the permissible basis for distinguishing heterosexual mar-
riage from same-sex unions. Second, Colorado Amendment Two did not merely deny
legal preference to persons with homosexual orientation, but it denied them basic
equal protections of the law. The Supreme Court held that the Colorado amendment
did not merely "put[] gays and lesbians in the same position as all other persons," ''^
but it arguably stripped them from even basic civil rights protections. The "sweeping
and comprehensive Colorado rule singled out gays and lesbians, and no others, for
special non-protection status,^" forbade specific protection of any kind for gays and
lesbians,8i and could be construed to "deprive[] gays and lesbians even of protection
of general laws,"82 There is a tremendous and constitutionally significant difference
between depriving persons of potentially all protection of the laws, as Colorado
Amendment Two was construed to do, and preserving the basic unit of our society
by refusing to extend preferred legal status to homosexual couples. DOMA simply
76 46 Cal.3d 267, 274-275, 758 P.2d 582, 586, 250 Cal.Rptr. 254, 258-259 (1988) (emphasis
added). See also Marvin v. Marvin. 18 Cal.3d 660, 684, 134 Cal.Rptr. 815, 557 P.2d 106 (1976);
Norman v. Unemployment Ins. Appeals Bd., 620 Cal.3d 1, 9, 192 Cal.Rptr. 134, 663 P.2d 904
(1983) (endorsing strong public policy favoring marriage, while noting no similar policy favored
nonmarital relationships); Beaty v. Truck Insurance Exchange, 6 Cal.App.4th 1455 8
Cal.Rptr.2d 593 (Third Dist. Ct. App.1992); Lewis v. Hughes Helicopter. 220 Cal.Rptr. 615 (Ct.
App. 1985), modified 253 Cal.Rptr. 426, 764 P.2d 278 (Cal. 1988). Hendrix v. General Motors
Corp, 193 Cal.Rptr. 922, Cal.App.3d 296 (1983); Nieto v. City of Los Angeles, 138 Cal.App.3d
464, 470-471, 188 Cal.Rptr. 31 (1982).
"116S.Ct. 1620(1996).
'87d. at 1623.
's/d. at 1624.
sold, at 1625.
81 /d. 1626.
82/d
41
protects the right of the states to protect the institution of marriage. Nothing in
Romer suggests any disapproval of laws that protect marriage and the family.
In fact, the same day the Supreme Court announced the Romer decision, it also
rendered another decision that underscored how important it is to protect each
state's ability to decide important legal policy issues for itself without having other
states impose their policies extraterritorially upon co-equal sovereign states. In
BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore,^^ decided the same day as Evans v. Romer,
the Court discussed whether Alabama courts could impose punitive damages upon
a defendant for doing something in other states that was legal in those states out
illegal in Alabama.®^ Justice Stevens wrote for the Court that under the Constitu-
tion it is impermissible for one state to "impose its own policy choice on neighboring
States. See Bonaparte v. Tax Court, 104 U.S. 592, 594, 26 L.Ed. 845 (1881) ('No
State can legislate except with reference to its own jurisdiction. * * * Each State
is independent of all the others in this particular")." ^5 A state's power to impose its
legal policy, upon other states, even in matters of commerce, is 'constrained by the
need to respect the interests of other States * * *."^^ The Court emphasize the need
to follow "these principles of state sovereignty and comity" which forbid one state giv-
ing its laws and legal policy extraterritorial effect that "infringfes] on the policy
choices of other States," because the Constitution requires each state "[t]o avoid such
encroachment." 8'' If such protection of state sovereignty is required for mere state
economic regulations, it is even more important that one state not legislate a radical
redefinition of marriage and then impose it on the other states. Since the very day
the Court decided Romer it also validated the core principle upon which S. 1740 is
based — the importance of protecting state sovereignty in setting its own legal poli-
cies from lateral extraterritorialism of other state s contradictory laws — and for the
other reasons noted above, I do not believe that DOMA is inconsistent with Romer.
Conclusion
Section 2 of S. 1740 takes a neutral position about interstate recognition of same-
sex marriage. It does not require or prohibit any state to recognize or give effect
to same-sex marriage, but it does prevent federal full faith and credit principles
from forcing states to take one position or the other. It establishes clearly a "hands-
of!" federal position — that federal authority will not be manipulated to compel states
to take either a pro- or contra-same-sex marriage position. Thus, it leaves the mat-
ter to each state, individually, to determine for itself It is a modest and prudent
approach. It is generally consistent with the history of interstate recognition of mar-
riage on difficult issues, and harmonious with the federalism principle that federal
power ought not override the authority of each state to establish its own law of do-
mestic relations. It is fair. And it is timely.
Section 3 protects Congress' authority to control federal laws, programs and agen-
cies. It prevents the imposition of same-sex marriage upon federal law without the
approval of Congress. That, too, protects our federalism.
I believe that S. 1740 is clearly within the power of Congress to enact. There is
a need to act. Congress has a responsibility to protect the states' right to decide for
themselves whether to recognize same-sex marriage. Congress also has a duty to
protect federal programs and agencies from efforts to import same-sex marriage into
federal laws and programs that operate in all states. Thus, based on my review and
analysis to date, I recommend that DOMA be fine-tuned, and enacted.^^
83 116 S.Ct. 1589, 64 USLW 4335 (May 20, 1996).
^ BMW had repeiinted parts of a new car that had sxiffered some paint damage while being
transported from Germany to the United States, and then sold the car as a new car in Alabama
without disclosing that it had been partially repainted at a cost of $601.37. That was lawful
in other states, but a recent Alabama case made it improper there. The plaintiff introduced evi-
dence that that lowered the resale price of the car about 10 percent and the jury awarded the
buyer $4,000 in compensatory damages (10 percent of the car's price). BMW had sold about
1,000 such repainted cars in the United States, including 14 cars in Alabama. The jury mathe-
matically awarded $4,000,000 in punitive damages, reduced on appeal to $2,000,000. The Su-
preme Court reversed and remanded, 5—4, noting that the award was so grossly excessive as
to violate due process, in part because the award appeared to be based on out-of-state conduct
that was lawful where it occurred and had no impact in Alabama.
8« 116 S.Ct. at 1596-97.
86 /d. at 1597 (citing Healy v. Beer Institute, 491 U.S. 324, 335-336 (1989); Edgar v. MITE
Corp., 457 U.S. 624, 643 (1982).
8'^/d. at 1597-98 (emphasis added).
881 have previously made wordcrafling suggestions for this bill. See Written Statement of
Prof. Lynn D. Wardle Concerning Protecting Federalism in Family Law before the Subcommit-
tee on the Constitution of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives (May 15,
1996).
42
The Chairman. Thank you, Professor Wardle.
Mr. Sunstein?
STATEMENT OF CASS R. SUNSTEIN
Mr. Sunstein. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a pleasure to be
here.
I am going to be talking also about the constitutional issues, the
question of congressional power. I won't say a word about the pol-
icy questions or the underlying issues about the nature or defini-
tion of marriage.
The first point to note about this legislation is that it is remark-
ably unprecedented. In the Nation's entire history, now well over
200 years. Congress has never passed legislation whose purpose
and effect was to negate the application of one State's judgment in
other States. Congress has legislated under the full faith and credit
clause. This negating or nullifying power has never been exercised
once.
This legislation risks two dangers. One is it may well be point-
less, and if it is not pointless, it raises very serious constitutional
problems. If it is pointless, it is because States have grappled with
this problem for a long time. This is an old problem, not a new one.
It is familiar. And States that have significant geographical connec-
tions with people don't have to recognize marriages among people
when those marriages violate the public policy of the State. In
cases involving incest, polygamy, adultery, and more. States have
grappled successfully with this problem without national interven-
tion. . ^ „ .
This particular issue, the issue of same-sex marriages, falls in a
class of cases with which the Federal system has dealt successfully
without national legislation.
If the statute isn^t pointless, it is very problematic from the con-
stitutional point of view. There is good reason to think that the full
faith and credit clause gives Congress broad power to extend the
application of judgments in one State. There is good reason to
think that Congress has not been given the power to negate judg-
ments by one State insofar as they are applied in other States. If
Congress does have the power to do this under the full faith and
credit clause, there is a big problem under the equal protection
component of the due process clause, as construed just a few weeks
ago by the U.S. Supreme Court in Romer v. Evans.
If Congress does this— it seems like a limited measure just in-
volving same-sex marriage — there could be very large future con-
sequences in areas involving product liability, punitive damages,
marriage and divorce, where there are interest groups all over the
Nation who would be extremely thrilled to see the possibility that
Congress can nullify the extraterritorial application of one State's
judgments.
Let me just say a few words now by way of elaboration. On point-
lessness, as I say, this is not a new problem. It is an old one. In
areas involving marriages among minors, incestuous or bigamous
marriages. States have dealt with this very successfully and very
frequently. There are volumes and volumes of cases. They don't in-
volve congressional legislation. When a marriage violates a State's
policy and when the State has a geographical connection with the
43
parties, the State is not obliged to recognize the marriage. That is
the tradition. It is extremely well-settled law. It is in both restate-
ments of the "Conflicts of Law." It suggests the very serious possi-
bility that this legislation has no purpose.
If it does have a purpose, it is problematic from the constitu-
tional point of view. There has been no serious suggestion that this
is OK under the commerce clause. It would be an exotic under-
standing of the commerce clause to say that marriage falls within
that domain.
The full faith and credit clause does, as you say, Senator Hatch,
have the word "effects" in it, and Congress does have power to pre-
scribe the effect of a judgment, and that might seem textually to
give Congress power here. But I think there are some reasons to
think that that is more word play or a verbal trick than an accu-
rate understanding of the Constitution. The full faith and credit
clause above all has a unifying purpose, not a disunifying purpose.
It is part of the move from the articles of Confederation to the Con-
stitution. If you look at the purpose of the clause, it is not to allow
nullification; it is to allow extension of judgments, not to negate
them.
If you look at the history of the clause back when the Framers
were writing — Madison and the others — they spoke about congres-
sional extension and enforcement of judgments. They spoke not at
all about congressional nullification of judgments. There is a big
dog that didn't bark in the Framers' night, and that is the bark of
nullification.
If history and purpose aren't conclusive, let's look just at Con-
gress' practice for now well over 200 years. Congress has never
once nullified the extraterritorial application of a State judgment.
Congress has acted under the full faith and credit clause a fair bit.
It has always been in the interest of extension. The consequences
of nullifying rather than extension could be very extreme. Califor-
nian divorces, Idaho punitive damage judgments, Illinois products
liability judgments — all of them would henceforth be up for grabs.
That is why from the standpoint of federalism this is a very large
as well as a very new bit of legislation.
If for the first time in the country Congress is going to act to nul-
lify a judgment in its extraterritorial applications, there is a prob-
lem under the equal protection clause. The Court said just a few
weeks ago that Congress may not enact measures that have the pe-
culiar property of imposing a broad disability on a single group.
This is an invalid form of legislation. If Congress hasn't legislated
for polygamous, incestuous marriages or marriages among minors,
then it has raised a question of discrimination.
In conclusion, this legislation has never been — nothing like it has
ever been done. It is unprecedented. It may well be pointless. This
problem has been handled by the States for well over 200 years.
If it has a point, it risks unconstitutionality. From the standpoint
of federalism and constitutional law, it is ill advised.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Sunstein follows:]
Prepared Statement of Cass R. Sunstein, Karl N. Llewellyn Professor of
Jurisprudence, University of Chicago
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:
44
I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to you today on S. 1740, the pro-
posed Defense of Marriage Act. I will not address the issues of policy that are raised
by S. 1740. Instead I will be speaking only to the constitutional issues, which are
novei, complex, and somewhat technical. ^ Because of the novelty and complexity of
the issues, any judgments on the constitutional issues must be at least a bit ten-
tative. , .
To summarize my view: S. 1740 is unprecedented in our nation's history; it is
probably either pointless or unconstitutional; and while the constitutional issues are
far from simple, it is safe to say that S. 1740 is a constitutionally ill-advised intru-
sion into a problem handled at the state level.
S. 1740 responds to an old problem, not a new one, and that problem — diverse
state laws about marriage has been settled for a long time without national inter-
vention. Thus there is a reasonable view that S. 1740 is pointless; it adds nothing
to cxirrent law. If S. 1740 is not pointless— if states must give full faith and credit
to the relevant marriages— S. 1740 may well be unconstitutional. In the nation's
history. Congress has never declared that marriages in one state may not be recog-
nized in another; it has not done this for polygamous marriages, marriages among
minors, incestuous marriages, or bigamous marriages. It is unclear if Congress has
the authority to enact such a bill under the commerce clause, the full faith and cred-
it clause, or any other source of national authority. In addition, S. 1740 raises seri-
ous issues under the equal protection component of the due process clause in the
aftermath of the Supreme Court's recent decision in Romer v. Evans.
I. background: federalism and recognition of out-of-state marriages
The impetus for S. 1740 is easy to understand. If one state— Hawaii— recognizes
same-sex marriage, is there not a danger that other states, whatever their views,
will be forced to accept same-sex marriages as well? Perhaps people will fly to Ha-
waii, get married there, and effectively "bind" the rest of the union to Hawau s
rules, forcing all states to recognize marriages that violate their poUcies and judg-
ments. A national solution seems necessary if one state's unusual rules threaten to
unsettle the practices of forty-nine other states.
This scenario is, however, unlikely, for the full faith and credit clause has never
been understood to bind the states in this way. For over two hundred years, states
have worked out issues of this kind on their own. It is entirely to be expected that
in a union of fifty diverse states, different states will have different rules governing
marriage. American law has carefully worked out practical strategies for ensuring
sensible results in these circumstances, as each state consults its own "public pol-
icy," and its own connection to the people involved, in deciding what to do with a
marriage entered into elsewhere. In short: States have not been bound to recognize
marriages if (a) they have a significant relation with the relevant people and (b) the
marriage at issue violates a strongly held local policy.
Thus, for example, the first Restatement of Conflicts says than a marriage is usu-
ally valid everywhere if it was valid in the state in which the marriage occurred.
But section 132 lists a number of exceptions, in which the law of "the domicile of
either party" will govern: polygamous marriages, incestuous marriage, marriage of
persons of different races, and marriage of a domiciliary which a statute at the
domicil makes void even though celebrated in another state. The Second Restate-
ment of Conflicts, via section 283, taken a somewhat different approach. It says that
the validity of a marriage will be determined by the state that "has the most signifi-
cant relationship to the spouses and the marriage." It also provides that a marriage
is valid everywhere if valid where contracted unless it violates the "strong pubhc
poUcy" of another state which had the most significant relationship to the spouses
and the marriage at the time of the marriage. Thus a state might refuse to recog-
nize incestuous marriages, polygamous marriages, or marriage of minors below a
certain age. , . /. • ^ x j * *
The two Restatements show that it is a longstanding practice for interested states
to deny validity to marriages that violate their own public poUcy. Many cases have
reflected a general view of this kind. See, e.g.. In re Vetas's Estate, 170 P. 2d 183
(1946); Maurer v. Maurer. 60 A.2d 440 (1948); Bucea v. State, 43 N.J Super 815
(1957); In re Takahashi's Estate, 113 Mont.490 (1942); In re Duncans Death, 83
II focus throughout on section 2. I do not beUeve that section 3 would be found unconstitu-
tional, though it would be possible to raise questions under the equal protection clause see
Romer v. Evans, infra; see also W. Eskridge, "The Case for Same-Sex Marriage, (1996^
Kuppelman, "Why Discrimination Against Lesbians and Gay Men Is Sex Discrimination, by
NYUL. Rev. 197(1994).
45
Idaho 254 (1961); In re Mortenson's Estate, 83 Ariz. 87 (1957). There is no Supreme
Court ruling to the effect that this view violates the full faith and credit clause.
All this suggests that S. 1740 would respond to an old and familiar problem that
has heretofore been settled through long-settled principles at the state level and
without federal intervention. If some states do recognize same-sex marriage, the
problem would be handled in the same way that countless similar jproblems have
been handled, via "public policy" judgments by states having significant relation-
ships with the parties. Different "public policies" will produce different results. This
is consistent with longstanding practices and with the essential constitutional logic
of the federal system. The greater irony is that the Hawaii legislatiure has recently
made clear that a marriage is available only between a man and a woman, and
hence there is no current problem that S. 1740 would address. I conclude that S.
1740 is constitutionally ill-advised because it intrudes, without oirrent cause, into
a traditional domain of the states.
If this traditional view is correct, S. 1740 is also pointless; it gives states no au-
thority that they lack. But a lurking question remains: Why, exactly, does the full
faith and credit clause not require states to recognize marriages celebrated else-
where? The Supreme Court has not offered an explanation. Perhaps the answer lies
in the fact that a marriage is in the nature of a contract, and hence it is not a "pub-
lic Act, Record, [or] iudicial Proceeding" within the meaning of the Clause. Perhaps
the answer lies in uie longstanding view that a state with a clear connection with
the parties and strong local policies need not defer to another state's law. In either
case there is no reason to enact S. 1740. But if the full faith and credit clause is
interpreted to require states to respect certain marriages, and if S. 1740 negates
that requirement, S. 1740 raises serious constitutional doubts.
n. CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY
Whether S. 1740 would be struck down as unconstitutional raised novel and com-
plex issues. My conclusion is that no simple view is plausible, and that in view of
the fact that this sort of issue has always been handled at the state level, S. 1740
makes little constitutional sense.
(a) Full faith and credit
The purpose of the full faith and credit clause was unifying — the clause was de-
signed to help create a "United States" in which states would not compete against
one another trough a system in which judgments could be made part of interstate
rivaliy. The clause's historic ftinction is to ensure that states will treat one another
as equals rather than as competitors. In this way, the full faith and credit clause
is akin to the commerce clause, operating against protectionism, in which one state
uses its power over its persons and territories to punish outsiders. See Jackson, Full
Faith and Credit>— The Lawyer's Clause of the Constitution, 45 Colum. L. Rev. 1
(1945).
For reasons just stated, the full faith and credit clause has not been understood
to mean that each state must recognize mgirriages celebrated in other states. But
-does the full faith and credit clause authorize S. 1740 if it is understood to give
states permission to ignore judgments by which they would otherwise be bound?
This is not clear. An affirmative answer might be supported by the following lan-
guage: "And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such
Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof" Perhaps Con-
S-ess can say that some Acts, Records and Proceedings are of "no effect." Perhaps
ongress' power over "the effect thereof means that Congress can decide which
Acts, Records and Proceedings have "effect." The question, then, is whether Con-
fress may not only prescribe the manner of proof and also implement the clause
y requiring "effect" upon certain proofs (what we might call the accepted "affirma-
tive" power), but also say tJiat certain Acts, Records, and Proceedings may be with-
out effect when, in the absence of legislation, they would have effect (what we might
call the "negative" power). Does the negative power exist, and how might it be lim-
ited? (Even if it does, Congress would have no power here if a marriage is not an
Act, Record, or judicial Proceeding. I put that point to one side.)
This is a complex and difficult question, and no Supreme Court decision gives a
clear nding. A detailed historical study of the grant of power to Confess seems to
suggest that the grant was designed to ensure that Congress could implement the
fufl faith and credit clause by expanding the reach of state rules and judgments.
That is because the clause has above all a unifying power. See Cook, The Powers
of Congress Under the FuU Faith and Credit Clause, 28 Yale LJ 421 (1919). In this
view, the clause may well authorize Congress (for example) to make state judgments
directly enforceable in other states, compel states to recognize rights create by legis-
46
lative acts in other states, and indeed enact uniform legislation for enforcement of
judgments throughout the United States. This is very broad (and emphatically uni-
fying power; but it need not include the power to say that certain judgments and
acts are of "no" effect.
What about Congress' own practice? Congress has used its power under the full
faith and credit clause relatively rarely, and when it has done so it has attempted
to ensure, not to undermine, the application of one state's law to other states. Thus
28 use 1738 prescribes rules for authentication and implements the clause by re-
peating its basic mandate. Thus 28 USC 1789 contains Uie rules for authentication
of nonjudicial records. Thus 28 USC 1738A— the closest analogy to S. 1740— ensures
that mil faith and credit will be given to child custody determinations. And thus
28 USC 1788B requires full faith and credit for child support orders. Hence a lead-
ing commentator refers to "the power of Congress, under the 'effect' clause of Article
IV^ section 1, of the Constitution, to increase the requirements of full faith and cred-
it to sister state decrees beyond what the Constitution alone would require." R.
Weintraub, Commentary on the Conflict of Laws, 278 (3d ed. 1986).
We may thus conclude, without controversy, that the central purpose of the au-
thorization to Congress is to allow the national legislature to provide a uniform sys-
tem of proof, to regularize relevant proceedings, and to mandate or require sister
states to recognize judgments that might otherwise not be recognized. See Currie,
Fxill Faith and Credit, Chiefly to Judgments. A Role for Congress, 1964 Supreme
Court Review 89. Does the clause extend further than that? Might Congress have
the power to authorize states to ignore judgments by which they would otherwise
be bound? , , ,
There are two possible extensions. FIRST: We might say that the clause allows
Congress to sort out problems of federalism by desigmng careful rules to ensure that
judgments in one state do not bind other states when those other have the most
fundamental connection with the controversy. Thus it might be said that in a child
custody dispute, Congress is entitled to "soften" judge-made rules for recognition of
external judgments by ensuring that states having the closest or principal connec-
tions with the parties ai3 entitled to implement their own policies. This "federalism"
interpretation would create a negative component to congressional power, but only
for purposes of implementing the basic goals of federalism. The child custody stat-
ute, 28 USC 1738A, is consistent with this interpretation; so too with the child sup-
port statute, 28 USC 1738B. Both statutes have mild "negative" dimensions insofar
as they prescribe the requirements for full faith and credit. Currie, supra, strongly
supports this view.
SECOND: A further extension would be to say that Congress can single out those
state acts and judgments of which it disapproves and give them no effect in other
states. Does this power exist? It is certainly not clear. The full faith and credit
clause is a federalism provision, with a certain identifiable aim: the creation of a
smoothly functioning federal system. When that aim is not involved, it is reasonable
to think that the clause does not allow Confess to undo the effect of state judg-
ments by saying that they are of "no effect." Thus the best reading of the text may
well be that it gives Congress power to help ensure recognition of sister-state judg-
ments and help ensure the smooth functioning of a federal system, but emphatically
not that it authorizes Congress to pick and choose among the judgments that states
should be required to recognize. There is no historical evidence that this latter
power was something that the framers thought to grant to Congress.
If the text is ambiguous, we might resolve the ambiguity by asking about the ef-
fects of the interpretation urged by proponents of S. 1740. Suppose that the full
faith and credit clause does allow Congress to say which state Acts, Records and
Proceedings shall be of "no effect." If this interpretation were adapted, a good deal
of the entire federal system could be undone, and the full faith and credit clause
would give the national government extraordinary authority. Under the proponents'
interpretation. Congress could simply say that any law that Congress dislikes is of
"no effect" in other states, and in that way Congress could essentially confine the
reach of any disfavored law to the enacting state itself. Congress could greatly dis-
rupt commercial relations. In the areas of bankruptcy, contract law, and much more
it could confine state law and state judgments to a state's own borders. This would
be an extraordinary power in Ught of the needs of a commercial republic. Nothing
in the background of the full faith and credit clause suggests that this was anyone s
understanding of the clause.
How does this bear on the constitutionality of S. 1740? It suggests that under the
"federaUsm" reading of Congress' negative power. Congress could enact a law ensur-
ing that states with significant connections to the parties are not bound by mar-
riages celebrated in other states. Congress could, in short, do something like what
has been done the first and Second Restatements of Conflicts. (At least this is so
47
if we assume that the Restatements do not themselves violate the clause and if we
assume that a marriage qualifies as an Act, Record, or judicial Proceeding.) But S.
1740 is far broader than that. If it is not pointless, it is therefore of doubtful con-
stitutionality.
(b) Commerce clause
If the full faith and credit clause does not support S. 1740, might Congress have
some other source of authority? The usual source of congressional authority to regu-
late private behavior is the commerce clause. The proponents of S. 1740 have not
relied on the commerce power, and so it is doubtful that the power is really at issue
here. In any case it appears at first glance that there is little connection between
the commerce power and S. 1740. The underlying conduct is not economic or com-
mercial in character. There is no requirement of any "nexus" between any private
behavior and commerce. Moreover, family law and domestic relations are frequently
invoked as the paradigmatic areas in which States have reserved power, and this
may bear on the constitutional issue. See United States v. Lopez, 115 S Ct 1624
(1995)(Kennedy, J., concurring).
Perhaps it could be argued that if a state allows same-sex marriage, people will
travel via interstate commerce to that state, thus affecting interstate commerce in
a dramatic way. The argument is not implausible. See Heart of Atlanta Motel v.
United States, 379 US 241 (1964). But if Congress wants to support S. 1740 on this
ground, it should investigate the underlying factual issues and make factual find-
ings to this effect. Even with such findings, it is not clear that S. 1740 would be
constitutional under the decision in United States v. Lopez, 115 S Ct 1624 (1995),
in which the Court said that Congress could not ban guns in a school zone. In that
case too it was plausible to say that violence in schools affect judgments about
whether to travel from state to state. Nonetheless, the Court held that the com-
merce power did not extend so far.
III. EQUAL PROTECTION AND ROMER V. EVANS
Let us suppose that S. 1740 is not pointless and that the full faith and credit
clause or the commerce clause allows Congress to free the states from an obligation
they would otherwise have under the full faith and credit clause. Even if this is so,
S. 1740 is not clearly constitutional. It may violate the equal protection component
of the due process clause, since this would be the first time in the nation's history
that the Court has freed a state from such an obligation, and Congress' selectivity—
not ft-eeing states from such an obligation in cases of polygamy, bigamy, incest, mar-
riage to minors — may be impermissible discrimination.
In its very recent decision in Romer v. Evens, 116 S. Ct. 1620 (1996) the Supreme
Court, by a 6-to-3 vote, struck down a Colorado constitutional amendment that said
that homosexuals could not be treated as a "protected class" for purposes of any
claim of discrimination. The Court said that this law violated the equal protection
clause because it was "irrational," that is, it was unsupported by anything other
than "animus" directed against homosexuals as a group. The Court emphasized in
particular the unprecedented character of the Colorado law. Thus the Court said
that the amendment "has the peculiar property of imposing a broad and undifferen-
tiated disability on a single named group, an exceptional and * * * invalid form of
legislation." Id. at 1627. The Court said that it "is not within our constitutional tra-
dition to enact laws of this sort." Id. at 1628. And the Court said that such laws
"raise the inevitable inference that the disadvantage imposed is born of animosity
toward the class of persons affected." Id. Thus the Court said that if "the constitu-
tional conception of equal protection of the laws means anything, it must at the very
least mean that a bare * * * desire to harm a politically unpopular group cannot
constitute a legitimate governmental interest." Id. at 1628 (citation omitted).
Romer v. Evans leaves open many questions, and it is not at all clear that S. 1740
is unconstitutional under that decision. But there are many parallels. As far as I
have been able to determine, S. 1740 is unprecedented; I have not been able to find
any other national legislation saying that states are permitted not to recognize a
marriage or similar arrangement as determined by the states at hand. Indeed, it
appears that this is the first time in the nation's history that Congress has ex-
Eressly said that a state is permitted not to recognize a judgment of another state.^
ike the Colorado amendment at issue in Romer, S. 1740 is an oddity in our con-
stitutional tradition. And like the Colorado amendment, S. 1740 is drawn explicitly
in terms of sexual orientation. S. 1740 makes a distinction between same-sex mar-
2 The child custody and child support statutes do allow some escape hatches, but their general
thrust is to ensure greater recognition of other states' judgments.
48
riages and all other marriages; it says nothing about incestuous marriages, biga-
mous marriages, marriages among minors, or polygamous marriages. Nor has Con-
gress ever enacted a measure involving those kinds of marriages. Insofar as it draws
the particular line it does, it risks running afoul of Romer's prohibition on laws
based on "animus" against homosexuals. This argument does not mean that same-
sex marriages must be recognized (just as Romer does not mean that a state must
forbid discrimination against homosexuals). It means that a "unique disability" im-
posed on homosexuals raises serious questions, and S. 1740 is a unique disability
insofar as Congress has enacted no similar measure about any other kind of socially
disapproved "marriage."
CONCLUSION
S. 1740 intrudes on an area traditionally handled at the state level, under prin-
ciples akin to those stated in both Restatements of Conflicts. It might well be point-
less. It would be an unprecedented exercise of congressional authority under the full
faith and credit clause, and Congress may well lack power to negate full faith and
credit in these circumstances. If S. 1740 is not pointless, and if it enables states to
ignore judgments by which they would otherwise be bound, it is unclear if S. 1740
is supported by legislative power under the full faith and credit or commerce clause.
FinaUy, the Supreme Court's recent decision in Romer v. Evans casts this legislation
into doubt under the equal protection component of the due process clause. S. 1740
is an odd departure from longstanding congressional practice. It is constitutionally
ill-advised.
The Chairman. Thank you, Professor Sunstein.
Ms. Henderson?
STATEMENT OF MITZI HENDERSON
Ms. Henderson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the
committee, for giving me this opportunity to address you this morn-
ing about the Defense of Marriage Act. My name is Mitzi Hender-
son, and I am here as the president of the national family organi-
zation Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We
profoundly oppose this legislation.
I agree that this bill is mean-spirited. It targets a specific group
of people, our sons and daughters, and sets up a debate that mis-
represents a community that is already under attack.
The bill is unnecessary. It is an attempt at a solution to a prob-
lem that does not yet exist. My marriage does not need to be de-
fended. My husband and I do not need your help to continue to
cherish one another and to respect our vows of more than 40 years.
What my family needs is a more tolerant America.
We can recognize our differences about the right to marry for gay
and lesbian persons and still oppose this legislation because \ye
share a common commitment to tolerance. It is tolerance that will
improve the lives of Americans and strengthen American families.
All across this country, we Americans are on a journey to under-
standing. Families, religious communities, and leaders are begin-
ning to end the silence about homosexuality. Many people are still
misinformed or uninformed about homosexuality, and the result is
that there is understandably a sense of unease, of discomfort, and
even of fear.
I understand the confusion and fear. Before my son came out to
me 18 years ago, I had no information to help me to think posi-
tively about his future life as a gay man. I struggled as a parent
and as a religious woman. But I never gave up on my faith and
I never gave up on my family.
Today I am an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and the proud
mother of four children and the grandmother of seven. As a mother
49
and a grandmother, I appreciate the honest attempts to strengthen
the American family. But let's not cheapen those concerns by pre-
tending that this bill will help heterosexual families.
In fact, with this legislation, you will add another worry to my
job as a parent, because I am forced to worry about my gay son
in a way that I am not forced to \yorry about my other children.
Let me give you one simple illustration.
A little over 2 years ago, our son, Jamie, fell desperately ill and
lost consciousness. His partner rushed him to the hospital. But
there was a problem. Although they had been a couple that we rec-
ognized as a couple for the past 9 years, Ray was unable to give
permission for treatment. By Federal and State law, Jamie and
Ray are no more than strangers to each other. In health care, every
moment counts. If Ray were legally married to my son, time, pre-
cious time, would not have been lost, time in which my son's condi-
tion worsened.
Health care concerns are just one reason why we have the insti-
tution of civil marriage. In my lifetime, we may never agree on how
we understand God's love or understand human nature. But I hope
that right now at a minimum we can agree that we need to prac-
tice tolerance for all families. To do any less is to sanction a hate
that erodes the very family values that we are seeking to protect.
I fear for my son — not only because of who he is but because I
know the price that is exacted by intolerance. One of those prices
is violence. In 1994, more than 4,000 people were physically as-
saulted in nine cities simply because they were gay or lesbian. I
live with that fear.
Job discrimination. In all but nine States, my son can be fired
from his job simply because he is gay. I live with that fear. I wish
I could have taken you with me for the last 18 years as I have
grown and learned.
I can give more to my church, to my country, to my husband
than I ever thought possible because I have grown and understood.
I will not let stereotypes destroy my family, and I will not let
stereotypes continue to threaten my son's future.
You who know and work with gay and lesbian persons also know
that these stereotypes are false. Most of you know that gay and les-
bian persons are your constituents, your staffers, your family, and
your friends. It is this community, your colleagues, your families,
and your friends whose lives you are now considering. The voters
are looking to you in Congress to resolve serious problems with the
budget, with health care, with welfare, with all the important is-
sues that only you at the Federal level can deal with. So we come
to you today with a simple message: Do not engage in politics that
divide the American family. You cannot defend marriage by attack-
ing our gay sons and lesbian daughters.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Henderson follows:]
Prepared Statement of Mitzi Henderson, National PREsroENT, Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee for the opportunity to
address you this morning about the "Defense of Marriage Act." My name is Mitzi
Henderson and I am here as the President of the national family organization Par-
50
ents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. I profoundly oppose this legisla-
The bill is unnecessary: it is an attempt at a solution to a problem that does not
exist
The bill is meanspirited: it targets a group of people for discrimination, and sets
up a debate that misrepresents a community already under attack.
We can recognize our differences about the right to marry for gay and lesbian
Americans and still agree that this bill is unnecessary. I am asking you to vote
against this bill because there is nothing to gain — and much to lose. We cannot now,
at this juncture, give up on our commitment to tolerance. We cannot now give up
on a shared commitment to improving the Uves of Americans, and strengthening
American families.
All across this country, Americans are on a journey. Famihes, rehgious commu-
nities, and leaders are ending our silence about homosexuality. Many people are
misinformed, or uninformed about homosexuality and so we are left, ultimately,
with the task of educating each other. On this journey there is understandably a
sense of dis-ease, discomfort, and even fear.
I understand your confusion and fear. Before my son came out to me 18 years
ago, I had no information that would help me to think positively about his future
life as a gay man. I struggled as a parent, and as a religious woman.
But I never gave up on my faith, and I never gave up on my familv. Today I am
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, the proud mother of four and grandmother
My family is better for our journey together. But my family was almost destroyed
because at one time we believed the stereotypes about gay and lesbian people.
It is a challenge to be a parent today. I appreciate honest attempts to strengthen
the American family, but lets not cheapen the concerns of American families by pre-
tending that passing a bill that does nothing will actually help a single family.
In fact, with this legislation, you will add another challenge to my job as a parent.
My marriage does not need to be defended. My husband and I do not need your help
to continue to cherish one another, and to respect our vows of more than forty years.
What my family needs is a more tolerant America.
My husband and I are not unique. As parents, we all worry about our children.
Those of you who are parents are even right now thinking — at least a little bit —
about your own children. Are they safe? Are they happy? When will you next have
the chance to see them? As parents, we do everything we can to make sure that
they are as safe as they can be from the everyday trials and tribulations of life. But
we can not protect them from everything.
As a parent of a gay son, I face particular challenges. I am forced to worry about
my gay son in a way that I do not worry about my other children. Some oarents
have lost their child to suicide, or to gay bashing. My family faced a medical emer-
gency, compUcated by legal barriers. ,. , .„ j
On the afternoon of January 3, 1994, our son, James Henderson, felt ill and came
home from his office early. By evening, when his partner of nine years, Ray, arrived
home he found Jamie delirious from pain, unable to reach the phone. Ray imme-
diately rushed Jamie to the hospital. But there was a problem. Although they heave
been a couple for nine years, Ray is not legally related to Jamie, so he was left out-
side in the waiting room— unable to get information about Jamie's condition, and
unable to give permission for treatment.
In those moments my son's condition worsened. Had Ray been legally married to
my son, he could have immediately signed the papers to authorize a life-saving oper-
ation. While the hospital commiserated with his predicament, without legal papers
they could not move forward. . j .,
We were fortunate on that particular day. My son eventually received the oper-
ation that saved his Ufe but his experience in the hospital drove home to me the
precarious nature of his family. The ban on same-gender marriages in this instance
quickly became a life-threatening situation for my family.
Let us be clear: despite the fact that my family recognizes the relationship ot
Jamie and his partner, by federal and state law they are no more than strangers
to 6d.cli oui6r
And so I fear for Jamie— not because of who he is, but because I know the price
of intolerance. In 1994 more than 4,000 people were physically assaulted in mne
cities because they are gay or lesbian. I hve with that fear. In all but nine states,
my son can be fired from his job simply because he is gay. I hve with that fear.
My concern is not just about the contents of this bUl, but the quaUty of our de-
bate Your words reach far beyond this piece of legislation. Your actions reach be-
yond the laws you pass. We all know that gay and lesbian people cannot get mar-
ried in any state in this country. The Hawaii Supreme Court is not near a final deci-
51
sion on the matter, and the other states do not need your permission to outlaw
same-gender marriage. Fourteen states have already done so.
In my lifetime we may never agree on how we understand Gk)d's love or human
nature. I think that right now, we can agree that at a minimum, we need to practice
tolerance for all of our families and communities. To do any less is to sanction a
hate that erodes the very family values you seek to protect.
I wish I could have taken you with me for the last eighteen years as I grew and
learned. I wish you could see how my family is stronger for our journey. I can give
more to my church, to my family, and to my country than I ever thought possible
because I dared to grow. I would not let stereotypes destroy my family. I will not
let stereotypes threaten my son's life.
You who know and work with gay and lesbian persons also know that the stereo-
types are false. I suspect that most of you know that gay and lesbian people are
your constituents, your staffers, your family and your friends.
It is this community— your colleagues, families, and friends— whose lives you are
now considering. A poll will not tell you what is right or fair. But your conscience
and your experience can tell you. .^i. xi. u j i.
The voters look to you in Congress to resolve serious problems with the budget,
health care, welfare and the important issues that only you can deal with.
We come to you today with a simple message: do not engage in politics that divide
the American family. We all need to strengthen the American family and marriage
is an institution that allows us to recognize and strengthen family ties. But you can
not defend marriage by attacking my son.
I urge you to resist the easy vote, and choose instead to support all famines by
defeating this bill.
PFLAG— Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the
health and well-being of gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons, their families, and
friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an
ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil
rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation, and acts
to create a society that is healthy, and respectful of human diversity. Founded in
1981, PFLAG is now organized in 410 communities in every state, with 60,000
household members. , . , . , j
Mitzi Henderson has been president of PFLAG since 1992. Mitzi became involved
with PFLAG in 1984, and founded the San Jose, CA Chapter. She served as PFLAG
Mid-Pacific Regional Director in 1991 and 1992, coordinating programming and or-
ganizational development for 27 PFLAG chapters. She chaired the Nominating Com-
mittee of the PFLAG Board in 1990, and was the Secretary of the Board 1989-1991.
Mitzi is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, where she has worked on commit-
tees at all levels of the church, including chairing the Presbyterian More Light-
Churches Network. She has also been a member of the League of Women Voters
since 1971, serving as Treasurer and Vice President of the South San Mateo County
League.
Mitzi holds a political science degree from Wellesley College, and has been mar-
ried for 40 years to Thomas J. Henderson, retired corporate construction executive
and current President of Pacific School of Religion. She has four children and six
grandchildren.
The Chairman. Thank you, Ms. Henderson.
We will end with you, Mr. Zwiebel.
STATEMENT OF DAVID ZWIEBEL
Mr. ZwiEBEL. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and distin-
guished members of this committee. It is a privilege for me to be
here and present Agudath Israel of America's perspective on this
legislation to you, and it is also a privilege for me to share the
panel with so many distinguished copanelists who are here today
and who have spoken so eloquently and forcefully for their view-
points.
52
Agudath Israel is a national Orthodox Jewish movement, and
certainly we have an enormous stake in a tolerant society. Our
community has for years historically and even here in the United
States our community has suffered because in many respects we
stand out and we are different, and we do have an enormous stake,
as I say, in a society that is tolerant and respects diversity.
The dilemma, though, as Senator Kennedy indicated in an ear-
lier statement — and I think he is absolutely right — the dilemma
here is that there are perspectives among members of this society,
whether they be based on religious or moral viewpoints, that there
are differences between different types of conduct; that there are
certain types of conduct which are inherently entitled to greater
moral deference than others.
There are many legal questions that this bill presents, and we
have heard from two constitutional experts. Indeed, as Professor
Sunstein correctly points out, legislation of this nature probably is
unprecedented in the history of this Congress. At the same time,
as Mr. Bauer points out, the issue that this legislation is designed
to address is also unprecedented, probably in the history of civ-
ilized society. Never before to my knowledge in any society has
there been formal recognition of marital relationships between
members of the same gender. And so if the proposed resolution of
this issue or the proposed way Congress might address this issue
is unprecedented, it is because the issue is unprecedented.
Frankly, there are two messages and two important, I think,
points that this legislation would make which cause us in particu-
lar to support it at this time. Number one is the question of soci-
ety's attitude toward marriage and what marriage means in this
society. It has become tragically clear in recent years that the de-
cline of marriage has engendered enormous social costs, and more
specifically — and this is critical — that the failure to view marriage
as the cornerstone of family life has had a devastating impact on
children.
I was a member of a body appointed by Congress and the Presi-
dent of the United States, the National Commission on Children,
and when we delivered our report to the American people in 1992,
we said this: When parents divorce or fail to marry, children are
often the victims. Children who live with only one parent, usually
their mothers, are six times as likely to be poor as children who
live with both parents. They also suffer more emotional, behavioral,
and intellectual problems. They are at greater risk of dropping out
of school, alcohol and drug abuse, adolescent pregnancy, childbear-
ing, juvenile delinquency, mental illness and suicide.
It is an urgent objective of this Nation's public policy to strength-
en the institution of marriage, but to do so in a manner that pro-
motes a sense of responsibility to children. The historical genius of
marriage is that it constitutes not only the legal union of man and
woman, but that it furnishes the foundation of family. Sadly, we
sometimes lose sight of that reality.
Legalizing same-sex marriages, which, by biological definition,
can never have anything to do with procreation, would obscure fur-
ther still the vital link between marriage and children. It would
convey the message that childbearing and child-rearing are matters
53
entirely distinct from marriage. The message is subtle, but it is
devastating.
There is one final point that I would make on this issue, and that
concerns the attitude of society toward homosexuality, the practice
of homosexuality. Again, I hesitate to say this because I don't mean
to come across as intolerant, but I am a believer, as are millions
of Americans, and we take Leviticus seriously. As many scholars
have noted, when Government passes laws, the laws by which a so-
ciety chooses to govern itself have, among other things, an edu-
cative function. When society confers its blessings upon same-sex
unions by according them the legal status of marriage, that would
convey an unmistakable imprimatur of social acceptability and le-
gitimacy of the practice of homosexuality.
For better or for worse, millions of Americans reject the notion
that homosexual conduct is merely an alternative life-style, no
more objectionable, no less acceptable than the traditional hetero-
sexual life-style. These Americans, pursuant to their faith, try to
raise their children with those beliefs. Extending legal protection
to same-sex unions is Government's way of telling those children
that their parents are wrong, that their priests, ministers, rabbis
are wrong, that civilized societies throughout the millennia have
been wrong. Respectfully, Government has no business conveying
that message.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Zwiebel follows:]
Prepared Statement of David Zwiebel, General Counsel and Director of
Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of America
Honorable Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:
I am David Zwiebel, general counsel and director of government affairs for
Agudath Israel of America, a national Orthodox Jewish movement. Agudath Israel
supports S. 1740; and I am grateful to you, Mr. Chairman, for inviting me here
today to share our views with the members of this distinguished committee.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention right up front that Agudath
Israel's perspective on homosexual conduct is informed by the biblical description of
such conduct as "to'eivah"— an abomination. (Leviticus 20:13.) Our perspective on
civil recognition of same-sex marriage is further informed by the talmudic dictum
that the nations of the world have always faithfully adhered to three basic commit-
ments they made to G-d, one of them being "she'ein kosvin kesuba le'zecharim"—
that they do not recognize any formal marital relationship between males. (Hulin
92.) For those who would exclude religious groups from the arena of public policy
debate on issues where their views are shaped by religious teachings, please be ad-
vised that for Agudath Israel and its constituency, this is one such issue — as it is,
no doubt, for millions of Americans of all faiths.
Happily, though, our nation in recent years has come increasingly to the recogni-
tion that religiously-grounded viewpoints do have a place at the public policy table;
that constitutionally mandated neutrality toward religion does not require hostility
or indifference toward religious values; that our national dialogue on issues of pro-
found social and moral import would be immeasurably impoverished were our
chiu-ches, mosques and synagogues frozen out of the discussion. Leviticus is not ir-
relevant.
Neither is history. Marriage has existed since time immemorial, and it has always
meant the sanctioned union of man and woman. Proponents of same-sex marriages
seek to change not only statutory law, but also the very nature of a social institution
that throughout the millennia has proven its worth as an agent of social stability
and historical continuity. The title of the bill before you today, the "Defense of Mar-
riage Act", may be dramatic — but it is apt.
The bill has two substantive components. Let me review each one briefly.
54
SECTION 2
Section 2 of S. 1740 would allow states not to "give effect to any public act, record,
or judicial proceeding" of any sister jurisdiction concerning "a relationship between
persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage" by the sister jurisdiction.
This provision is designed to address a threat that looms on the immediate hori-
zon. In Baehr v. Lewin, 852 P.2d 44 (1993), the Supreme Court of Hawaii ruled that
the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples implicated the Hawaii state con-
stitution's mandate that "[n]o person * * * be denied the enjojonent of the person's
civil rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of * * * sex".
The court further ruled that such denial may be justified only if Hawaii can dem-
onstrate that its anti-same-sex-marriage policy advances compelling state interests
and is narrowly drawn to serve those interests. The case was remanded to the lower
court for a determination on the issue of compelling state interest, and the trial of
that issue is scheduled to begin shortly. Many legal observers anticipate that the
eventual outcome of Baehr will be that same-sex marriages will be recognized in
Hawaii. If so, the possibility looms large that same-sex couples from across the Unit-
ed States will journey to Hawaii to solemnize their "marital vows"; validate their
marriage through a formal Hawaii state Proceeding; and then call upon their states
of domicile to accord "full faith and credit" to the Hawaii proceeding.
To use the constitutional doctrine of full faith and credit to allow the courts of
Hawaii, interpreting their own state constitution, effectively to determine that the
49 other states must also recognize the validity of same-sex marriages, would be to
provoke a constitutional crisis of considerable magnitude. Section 2 is designed to
head off such a crisis by allowing each state to decide the matter on its own.
It is often said, correctly, that the judiciary plays a vital role in protecting the
minority against the tyranny of the majority. But tyranny is by no means within
the exclusive domain of the majority. An empowered minority is capable of tjTanny
as well — as when, for example, a court radically redefines the institution of mar-
riage by interpreting its state constitution in a manner that is at variance with the
intent of the democratically elected representatives of the people, without the bene-
fit of public debate, without the input of public hearings, without the legitimacy of
public support. The tyranny of the minority is compounded 49 times over, however,
if the powerful engine of the full faith and credit doctrine is then employed to con-
vert one state court's radicalism into the de facto law of the entire land.
Section 2 is thus a particularly appropriate exercise of Congress' constitutional
authority, pursuant to Article Fv, Section I, to "prescribe * * * the Effect" of one
state's legal judgments on the others. See generally Laycock, Equal Citizens of Equal
and Territorial States: The Constitutional Foundations of Choice of Law, 92 Colum.
L. Rev. 249,301(1992).
SECTION 3
As noted, section 2 of the bill takes no substantive position on the validity of
same-sex marriages; it allows each state to decide for itself whether to recognize
such marriages that have been performed with legal sanction in other states. Sec-
tion 3, in contrast, takes an affirmative stance. It declares that for purposes of fed-
eral law, notwithstanding what any individual state — or for that matter, all the
states — may choose to do, the terms "marriage" and "spouse" shall not encompass
same-sex unions.
The need for this legislation is manifest. The general presumption is that "federal
courts should look to state law in defining terms describing familial relations."
Spearman v. Spearman, 482 F.2d 1203, 1204 (5th Cir. 1973). If, therefore, Hawaii
or any other state accords recognition to same-sex marriages, a federal court might
well conclude that the various benefits federal law assigns to married couples must
be made available to the same-sex couples whose "marriages" have been validated
pursuant to state law. Section 3 would preclude this result by clarifying that the
intent of federal law is not to jdeld to any state definition of marriage that encom-
passes same-sex unions.
Congress' authority to issue this definitional clarification is a simple matter of
federalism. It is the federal lawmaking body, not the state courts or legislatures,
that has the power to decide the meaning of terms used in federal law. Section 3
is thus an unassailable expression of congressional authority in our federal system.
THE SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS LEGISLATION
The movement to confer the status of "marriage" upon same-sex unions is, in
Agudath Israel's view, an extremely dangerous one for American society. I will focus
on the two aspects of this movement that we beUeve should be cause for particular
concern.
55
First, there is the question of society's attitude toward the institution of marriage
itself. It has become manifestly and tragically clear in recent years that the decline
of marriage has engendered enormous social costs — and, more specifically, that fail-
ure to view marriage as the cornerstone of family life has had devastating impact
on children. In its 1992 report to the nation, Beyond Rhetoric: A New American
Agenda for Children and Families, the National Commission on Children noted (at
page 253) as follows:
When parents divorce or fail to marry, children are often the victims.
Children who live with only one parent, usually their mothers, are six times
as likely to be poor as children who live with both parents. They also suffer
more emotional, behavioral, and intellectual problems. They are at greater
risk of dropping out of school, alcohol and drug use, adolescent pregnancy
and childbearing, juvenile delinquency, mental illness, and suicide.
It is, or ought to be, an urgent objective of public policy not only to strengthen
the institution of marriage, but to do so in a manner that promotes a sense of re-
sponsibiUty to children. The historical genius of marriage is not merely that it con-
stitutes the legal union of man and woman, but that it furnishes the foundation of
family. Sadly, we sometimes lose sight of that reality.
Legalizing same-sex marriages — which, by biological definition, can never have
anything to do with procreation — would obscure further still the vital link between
marriage and children. It would convey the message that childbearing, and
childrearing, are matters entirely distinct from marriage. The message is subtle, but
devastating.
Second, there is the question of society's attitude toward homosexuality. As many
jurisprudential scholars have noted, and as many parents and teachers instinctively
recognize, government is not a neutral actor in the field of moral values; the laws
by which a society chooses to govern itself have (among other things) an educational
function. Conferring society^s blessing upon same-sex unions by according them the
legal and social status of "marriage, as Hawaii appears about to do, would convey
an unmistakable imprimatur of acceptability and legitimacy upon the practice of ho-
mosexuality.
Which brings us full circle. For better or for worse, millions of Americans, of all
faiths, reject the notion that homosexual conduct is merely an "alternative lifestyle,"
no more objectionable and no less acceptable than the traditional heterosexual life-
style. These Americans strive hard to raise their children to recognize that not all
expressions of sexuality are morally equivalent. Extending legal recognition to
same-sex unions is government's way of telling those children that their parents are
wrong, that their priests, ministers and rabbis are wrong, that civilized societies
throughout the millennia have been wrong. We respectfully submit that government
has no business conveying that message.
Agudath Israel accordingly supports the Defense of Marriage Act. Thank you very
much for your consideration of our views.
The Chairman. Thank you. I think this has been an excellent
hearing. Each of you has presented a point of view that is very im-
portant to this committee.
I will put into the record at this point an editorial by Prof. Larry
Tribe, Laurence Tribe, of the Harvard Law School, and a letter in
response written by Prof. Michael McConnell of the University of
Chicago Law School, without objection.
[The editorial of Mr. Tribe and a letter from Mr. McConnell fol-
low:]
Toward a Less Perfect Union
[Copyright 1996, The New York Times Co., The New York Times, May 25, 1996, Saturday, late edition— final,
section 1, page 11, column 2, editorial desk.]
[By Laurence H. Tribe; Laurence H. Tribe is a professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law School.]
Cambridge, MA. — There is more than a little irony in the so-called Defense of
Marriage Act, the proposed Federal law that would allow states to deny recognition
to same-sex marriages that might be accorded full legal status in other states.
It is ironic, first, that such a measure should be defended in the name of states'
rights. Our Constitution's principal means of protecting state sovereignty is to limit
56
the national Government to certain enumerated powers — ^but these powers do not
include any authority to invite some states to disregard the official acts of others.
And it is ironic, second, that the first such invitation ever extended by Congress
should deal with marital union. The Constitution's principal device for assuring a
"more perfect union" is the Full Faith and Credit Clause, which requires that each
state must fully credit "the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every
other state." More than half a century ago, the Supreme Court described the clause
as "a nationally unifying force" that transformed the individual states from "inde-
pendent foreign sovereignties, each free to ignore rights and obligations" created by
the others, into integral parts "of a single nation, in which rights * * ♦ established
in any [state] are given nationwide application."
The Defense of Marriage Act aims to counter the possibility that Hawaii's courts
will legalize same-sex marriages, prompting gay couples to flock to the islands to
be wed and return to their home states to claim the benefits of civil marriage. De-
fenders of this novel statute are fond of quoting the 10th Amendment: "The powers
not delegated to the United States by the Constitution ♦ * * are reserved to the
states respectively, or to the people."
But that very principle condemns the proposed statute, for the Constitution dele-
gates to the United States no power to create categorical exceptions to the Full
Faith and Credit Clause. To be sure, the clause does empower Congress to enact
"general laws" to "prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings
shall be proved, and the effect thereof" But that is a far cry from power to decree
that official state acts offensive to a majority in Congress need not even be recog-
nized by states that happen to share Congress' view.
Some claim that a law inviting states to give no effect to certain acts of other
states is a general law prescribing the "effect" of such acts. But that is a play on
words, not a legal argument. The Full Faith and Credit Clause cannot be read as
a fount of authority lor Congress to set asunder the states that this clause so sol-
emnly brought together.
Such a reading would mean, for example, that Congress could decree that any
state was free to disregard any Hawaii marriage, any California divorce, any Kan-
sas default judgment, any punitive damage award against a lawyer — or any of a po-
tentially endless list of official acts that a Congressional majority might wish to
denigrate. This would convert the Constitution's most vital unifying clause into a
license for balkanization and disunity.
Defenders of the proposed law cite judicial decisions allowing one state to decline
to enforce certain determinations of another on "public policy* grounds — marriages
entered in one state, for example, to evade the bigamy laws of the state where the
partners Uve. But states need no Congressional license to deny effect to whatever
marriages (or other matters) may fall within this category. They can do so on their
own.
The only authority the proposed statute could possibly add to the discretion states
already possess would be authority to treat a sister state's binding acts as though
they were the acts of a foreign nation — authority that Congress has no constitu-
tional power to confer.
The University of Chicago,
The Law School,
Chicago, IL, July 10, 1996.
The Hon. Orrin G. Hatch,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing in response to arguments that the proposed
Defense of Marriage Act is beyond the powers of Congress under the Full Faith and
Credit Clause, including an essay published by Professor Laurence Tribe in the New
York Times on May 26, 1996. These arguments are, I believe, baseless.
The Full Faith and Credit Clause was intended by its framers to soUdify the
Union by requiring each state to respect the laws and legal judgments of sister
States. But the Clause has never been understood to impose an absolute obligation;
nor could it, given the nature of the subject matter. When two states have inconsist-
ent laws on the same subject, it would literally be impossible for the each to be
given effect throughout the country. This would defy the logical principle of
noncontradiction. Rather, the Clause was written against the backdrop of choice-of-
law principles, including those related to the enforcement of judgments. The effect
of the Clause was to subject these principles to federal constitutional review, until
and unless Congress has spoken on the subject, and to federal statutory law if Con-
57
gress so chooses, (Note the use of the permissive verb "may" in the last sentence
of the provision.) . „ .
The prospect that one state may recognize same-sex umons as marriages raises
precisely the kind of issue that is properly addressed by Congress under this Clause.
Under our Constitution, marriage law is a question left to state law. No state has
ever treated same-sex unions as marriages (indeed, no legal jurisdiction in the world
has done so). Yet if the State of Hawaii performs marriages of persons of the same
sex, these marriages might well be deemed public "Records," and declaratory judg-
ments or other legal proceedings in Hawaii recognizing the validity of any such mar-
riages would almost svu-ely be Judicial Proceedings," within the meaning of the Full
Faith and Credit Clause. It is therefore not unlikely that other states would be com-
pelled to recognize these unions as marriages within their own boundaries. Couples
could journey to Hawaii, engage in a marriage ceremony under Hawaii law, and on
return to their home states oe entitled to legal treatment as a married couple, not-
withstanding limitations of marriage in their own home state to persons of the oppo-
site sex. Indeed, one of the briefs in the Hawaii case urges recognition of same-sex
marriage precisely because of the bounteous tourist trade this would create.
I stress that while this scenario is not unlikely, it also is not certain. It is possible
that states with laws against same-sex unions will be able to resist recognition of
these marriages under the so-called "public policy^' exception. (The answer to this
probably hinges on whether marriages are embodied in a legal judgment, or not.)
It is also possible that Hawaii will place reasonable domiciliary restrictions on the
availability of same-sex marriage. The difficulty, however, is that these issues would
not be resolved for many years, and if they are resolved adversely t-o the interests
of the other states, it would likely be too late for Congress to act. The purpose of
the proposed act, therefore, is to ensure that each state continues to be able to de-
cide for itself whether to recognize same-sex marriage — to ensure that one state is
not able to decide this question, as a practical matter, for the entire nation.
For those who believe in a prudent approach to social change, based on experience
rather than abstract theorizing, the proposed statute has the advantage of allowing
this rather dramatic departure from past practice to be tested before it is imposed
everywhere. While powerful arguments have been made in supoort of same-sex mar-
riage, liie arguments on the otner side are not inconsequential. Same-sex marriage
has never been tried, and the effects on family, on children, on adoption, on divorce,
on adultery rates, and on social mores in general are very difficult to predict. What-
ever one's view on the merits of the social Question, the advantages of using the
"laboratories of democracy" provided by our decentralized, 50-state system, to test
the results, before moving to a new national definition of marriage, should he appar-
ent. Yet, if Congress does not act, there is a serious prospect that the Hawaiian defi-
nition of marriage willprevail throughout the nation, by virtue of application of the
Full Faith and Credit Clause.
There is little doubt that Congress has authority to intervene. The Full Faith and
Credit Clause explicitly empowers Congress to "prescribe * * * the Effect" that the
"public Acts, Records, and Judicial Proceedings of one state shall have in other
states. Congress has rarely exercised this authority, and accordingly there is little
precedent (either in tJie form of legislative interpretations or of judicial decisions)
to illuminate it. But there is no reason to doubt that the Clause means precisely
what it says: that Congress has plenary power to prescribe what effect the laws of
one state will have on another.
The only express limitation on the power of Congress under the Effects Clause
is that it must act by "general law." This means that it may not legislate with ref-
erence to particular cases. It could not, for example, pass a law specifying that Mr.
John Doe's divorce must (or must not) be recognized throughout the Union. Con-
gress should not judge individual cases. The "general law" limitation may also mean
that the law must apply to all states. (The term "general" was typically used at the
time in contradistinction to "local.") But the proposed Defense of Marriage Act is
"general" in every sense of the word. It gives all states the power to enforce their
own laws with respect to same-sex marriage.
I have heard it suggested that Congress power is limited to effectuating or enforc-
ing the acts, records, and judicial proceedings of the states, and that me Defense
of Marriage Act does not fall within this category because it denies any effect to cer-
tain such acts. This interpretation has no support in the language, purpose, or his-
tory of the Clause. To "prescribe the effect" of something is to determine what effect
it will have. In the absence of powerftU evidence to the contrary, the natural mean-
ing of these words is that Congress can prescribe that a particular class of acts will
have no effect at all, or that their effect will be confined to their state of origin.
In this respect, it is useful to contrast the language of Section Five of the Four-
teenth Amendment, which empowers Congress to "enforce, by appropriate legisla-
58
tion, the provisions of this article," or with Article I, §8, cl. 18, which empowers
Congress to "make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
Execution the foregoing Powers." These provisions are, indeed, limited to statutes
that would effectuate their respective purposes. But the Full Faith and Credit
Clause is not worded that way. It does not give Congress power to make laws nec-
essary and proper for the "enforcement" of state laws in other states, or for carrying
those laws into "execution." Instead, Congress is given full power to "prescribe" their
"effect."
There is good reason for this difference. The Full Faith and Credit Clause deals
with the problem of inconsistencies in state laws. As noted above, not all state laws
can be enforced everywhere, if the laws are in conflict. If Hawaii's law recognizing
same-sex marriage is enforced in other states, the laws of those states will he
stripped of their efficacy. The field called "choice of law" was developed to deal with
these conflicts, and the Full Faith and Credit Clause empowers Congress as the ulti-
mate umpire. But in exercising this power, it necessarily will be the case that Con-
gress gives effect to some state laws and denies effect to others. Thus, an interpreta-
tion of the Clause that insists that Congress only has power to "give effect" to state
laws and not to "deny effect" is logically impossible. The Defense of Marriage Act
may "deny effect" to Hawaiian law under certain circumstances; but by the same
token it "gives effect" to the law of the state in which the controversy takes place.
The opposite result would "give effect" to Hawaiian law only by "denjdng effect" to
the law of the place in which the conflict takes place.
Until this politically contentious context arose, no scholar stud3dng the meaning
of the Full Faith and Credit Clause had ever suggested that Congress power to pre-
scribe the effect of state laws was impUedly limited in this way. Edward C. Corwin,
for example, wrote:
Congress has the power under the clause to decree the effect that the
statutes of one State shaill have in other States. This being so, it does not
seem extravagant to argue that Congress may under the clause describe a
certain type of divorce and say that it shall be granted recognition through-
out the Union, and that no other kind shall. Or, to speak in more general
terms, Congress has under the clause power to enact standards whereby
uniformity of State legislation may be secured as to almost any matter in
connection with which interstate recognition of private rights would be use-
ful and valuable.
Edward S. Corwin, "The Constitution and What It Means Today," 255 (14th ed.).
If Congress can "describe a certain type of divorce and say that it shall be granted
recognition throughout the Union" it presumably may describe a certaiin type of
marriage and say the same. See also Walter Wheeler Cook, "The Powers of Congress
Under the Full Faith and Credit Clause," 28 Yale L.J. 421 (1919) (surveying history
of the Full Faith and Credit Clause and concluding that it gives Congress full power
to determine "the legal effects or consequences in other states of the 'public acts,
records and judicial proceedings' of a state," including legislation as well as adju-
dications); Douglas Laycock, "Equal Citizens of Equal and Territorial States: 'The
Constitutional Foundations of Choice of Law," 92 Colum. L. Rev. 249, 331 (1992)
("It is common ground that Congress can designate the authoritative state law
under the Effects Clause, specifying which state's law gets any effect in that class
of cases.") The proposed Act simply specifies that each state may give effect to its
own law in this class of cases.
The argument that the proposed statute would violate the Equal Protection
Clause requires little comment. As held in the recent case of Romer v. Evans, 116
S. Ct. 1620, 1627 (1996), laws that disadvantage individuals on the basis of sexual
orientation will be upheld so long as they bear "a rational relation to some legiti-
mate end." The provision struck down in Romer, the Court held, was not "directed
to any identifiable legitimate purpose or discrete objective." Id. at 1629. Bv contrast,
it is surely a legitimate legislative purpose to ensure that each state is able to make
and enforce its own criteria for recognition of marriage.
Moving beyond the constitutional question, however, I question whether Congress
really intends some of the results that could obtain under the proposed Act. For ex-
ample, if a same-sex couple resident in Hawaii were involved in an automobile acci-
dent in Michigan, does it make any sense to treat them as "unmarried" for purposes
of tort and insurance law? One way to handle this problem would be to declare that
the legal right of two persons to be married to one another is determined by the
state of common domicile from time to time, or if there is no common domicile, the
state where the relationship is centered. This would leave in place ordinary choice
of law rules for cases in which domiciliaries of one state were temporarily present
in another state. That would be in keeping with longstanding principles regarding
59
the legal status of "sojourners" — principles that have been honored in the past even
in the face of such divisive subjects as slavery.
Please be aware that I write as an individual, and not representing the views of
the University of Chicago or of any other group or institution.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) Michael W. McConnell
(Typed) Michael W. McConnell,
William B. Graham Professor.
The Chairman, Mr. Bauer, let me start with you. How serious
are the practical problems created by the Hawaiian Supreme
Court's 1993 decision in Baehr v. Lewin?
Mr. Bauer. Well, it is very serious, Mr. Chairman. There is no
State in the Union where any data can be found that shows public
support for permitting same-sex marriages.
Senator Feinstein, in your State of California, the latest poll out
just this week shows about 59 percent of Califomians oppose same-
sex marriage.
And yet if Hawaii acts, every State will find itself in the need
of doing some affirmative action to prevent the State from having
to recognize what these judges in Hawaii have done.
In a number of States where there has been an attempt to reflect
the wishes of the population of that State, the bills have been
bogged down with all kinds of delaying tactics, and there has been
no vote in the legislatures this year. We just feel strongly that 49
other States should not be forced in a comer to have to afiirma-
tively act in order to prevent being forced to embrace something
that their populations overwhelmingly reject.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Zwiebel, the term and concept of marriage is not an inven-
tion of American culture, as you have said. Is it correct to say that
our heritage defines a "marriage" as requiring a union of persons
of opposite sexes?
Mr. Zwiebel. I believe it does. Again, as I noted and as Mr.
Bauer noted, I believe that there has yet to exist a society in the
history of the civilized world that has embraced a formal relation-
ship. There has always been homosexuality, and there have been
some societies that have been distinguished — I put the phrase
within quotes — ^by homosexual practices that were fairly prevalent
in those societies. But at the same time, never ever has any society
attempted to translate those t3T)es of relationships into the formal
legal recognition that marriage would imply. And so when we
speak about a word as hallowed — and I use that phrase very, very
decidedly — as hallowed as marriage, there is a tradition and his-
tory does have something to teach us about what that word means
and what it ought to mean.
As I said earlier, there are sound reasons for that, because mar-
riage is more than simply the union or the companionship of two
people. It is the foundation of family.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Professor Wardle, Professor Sunstein in his testimony said that
the Defense of Marriage Act, as I interpreted his testimony, may
be unconstitutional. Has the Supreme Court ever held a law exer-
cising Congress' power under the full faith and credit clause to be
unconstitutional?
60
Mr. Wardle. Not to my knowledge, Chairman Hatch. In fact, I
believe the Supreme Court has repeatedly indicated that Congress
has power to exercise, to legislate in this field, very broad power.
I think the text is very broad.
I would respectfully disagree with my distinguished colleague's
characterization. Mr, Sunstein described this as a bill that negates
full faith and credit. I think that mischaracterizes, in fact, what
the bill does. The bill is a neutral position, not a negating position.
It says States — does not force States to refuse to recognize. It says,
and only, that States are free to choose for themselves. It is a neu-
tral position. They may recognize. It just says that Federal full
faith and credit law cannot be used to force States to recognize
same-sex marriage.
The Chairman. Professor Wardle, some critics of the Defense of
Marriage Act say that Congress lacks power under the Constitution
to legislate in this area. These critics say that under the tenth
amendment only States have power to regulate marriage.
Does that criticism have any merit, in your view? Are there other
instances where the Congress is engaged in what I would call lat-
eral federalism?
Mr. Wardle. Well, I don't believe that Congress has the author-
ity to directly regulate marriage and domestic relations. I think
that point is well taken. It is simply misplaced. That doesn't apply
to this bill.
In fact, with regard to what you would call the lateral federal-
ism, yes. Congress has acted. Section 1738(a) of the Parental Kid-
napping Prevention Act is a full faith and credit measure that
deals directly with child custody, a primary domestic relations
issue. Likewise, section 1738(b) dealing with child support, again,
full faith and credit. Congress' appropriate power. But it deals with
the subject of domestic relations.
The Chairman. My time is up.
Senator Kennedy?
Senator Kennedy. Thank you.
Ms. Henderson, I want to just thank you for being here and de-
scribing the reality of your family situation. I think all of us under-
stand that it is never easy to talk about some of the challenges that
families are facing. We all have a sense of wrapping ourselves
around our families, whether there are health problems or other
kinds of needs. So I must say we all thank you for being willing
to share about what is happening out there among many other
families, and I think you have shown great courage.
We never really give the kind of weight to the anxiety. Too often
we know the costs of everything and the value of too little. You
know, the first thing that we are always asked is what is the cost
and what is the budget impact and all the rest. But I think what
you talk about today is your genuine fear about your son and your
family about whether he is able to hold a job or whether it is going
to be exposed to violence in society, these others kinds of factors
that other families worry about in terms of their kids, but there is
no question that a person who is gay or lesbian faces this in much
greater amount. So this is important. When we look at legislation
to consider it in context, we appreciate that.
61
Mr. Sunstein, because I know that time is moving on, as I under-
stand from your response — and I apologize to you and Mr. Bauer
and the others for having to absent myself briefly because of an-
other matter that came up, but as I understand, you believe that
there is really little we can do here in the statute that is either
going to enhance or diminish the constitutional authority of the
power of the States. Is that correct? You can't by statute. And your
understanding of various decisions that have been made by the
States in terms of the recognitions of marriage, I mean in certain
States people that are young can't get married or they have to be
a certain age or the relationship between relatives, for example, is
not recognized in my own State of Massachusetts, but that there
is at least a code of holdings that at least could be interpreted as
permitting the States to make judgments on these matters of, in
this case, social policy?
Mr. Sunstein. That is correct. Professor Wardle and I are agreed
in suggesting, I think, that the proponents of this bill are panicked
about a situation the Federal system has handled very well for a
long, long time. If a State has a strong public policy and a terri-
torial connection with a couple, and that couple has been married
in, let's say, Hawaii and the State doesn't want to respect the mar-
riage, that is by tradition OK. So this legislation on that count has
no point.
Senator Kennedy. Territorial, as I would translate it, means
that if they just ran out there to a particular State and then came
on back to another, they may make the judgment and decision that
they wouldn't recognize it.
Mr. Sunstein. Absolutely. The impetus for this bill is the fear
that people will rush to Hawaii, get married, and then bind the 49
States. That has been stated a few times. But it is a fear without
basis.
Senator KENNEDY. Let me in the time remaining, Mr. Bauer, just
ask — ^you have a difference in terms of this legislation, and I re-
spect your position on it. In preparation for the hearing, I am al-
ways reminded about sort of where this country has been on so
many matters of bigotry and discrimination and how they have
evolved in our society. In the Declaration of Independence, we say
"all men are created equal." We dealt with the issues of gender —
not as well as we should have. We inscribed slavery into the Con-
stitution, and yet we fought a civil war to get over it.
One of the first pieces of legislation that I had the opportunity
to floor manage was the immigration bill of 1965 that wrote in na-
tional origin quotas based upon where you were bom, favoring
some nations. We had the Asian Pacific triangle that discriminated
against those of "yellow race"; 127 could come in under that time.
My grandfather in Boston faced "no Irish need apply."
The Housing Act that we passed, the discrimination against el-
derly and against children, we had to pass a law because there
were many apartment buildings that were discriminating against
children and also the elderly.
We have had the Americans with Disabilities Act to try and do
something about discrimination with disabilities. I am in a family
that has a mentally retarded sister, and I can always remember
the problems that she always faced as a person with mental retar-
62
dation. We have discrimination on mental illness today in our
health care system, and we have discrimination against gays and
lesbians. We have it out there in the job place.
Now, what is your position or do you have a position in terms
of trying to do something about discrimination in the job place
against gays and lesbians?
Mr. Bauer. Well, let me address specifically your idea, which is
to add an amendment to this bill related to that issue. This may
be the only time this year that President Clinton and I are in
agreement. My advice would be to follow his advice and send him
a clean bill so that he can sign it.
On the larger question of whether adding sexual preference to
discrimination laws is a good or bad idea, I think it is a terrible
idea. I think it is a terrible idea because it would necessarily re-
quire employers to inquire of employees what their sexual pref-
erences are. When a woman walks into your office to interview for
a job, there is no question that a woman has walked into your of-
fice to inquire about or apply for a job. But how would an employer
even know if he is discriminating unless we are going to enshrine
in the law the idea that we must know the sexual preferences and
bedroom habits of every employee?
Senator Kennedy. Well, there are ways of doing that. I won't get
into an exchange on that because certainly the question is whether
they are being discriminated against and fired from the job because
of gay or lesbian activities. That is what I was addressing.
Let me ask you this: Do you think the laws that make homo-
sexual conduct a crime ought to be enforced?
Mr. Bauer. I think that the States
Senator Kennedy. Can you answer that yes or no?
Mr. Bauer. Probably not to your satisfaction. It is going to take
a couple sentences, Senator.
I think the States over the years did a wise thing in saying
through those laws that they wanted to discourage homosexual be-
havior. Do I think it is a good use of law enforcement personnel
and limited resources at a time when a crime wave is continuing
to sweep the Nation to try to peer into bedroom doors? No, I don't.
Senator Kennedy. So you don't believe that the laws that are on
the statute books in localities and States with regard to gay and
lesbian conduct should be enforced?
Mr. Bauer. I believe those laws are a good thing, but I also be-
lieve in prosecutorial discretion and that if I were a prosecutor, I
would not use limited resources on that issue.
Senator Kennedy. We all like it both ways, you know, on
Mr. Bauer. Well, I noticed that. Senator, when I heard you mak-
ing a federalism argument a little while ago, which was a real rar-
ity. [Laughter.]
Senator Kennedy. Well, we can — I think it is a sustainable posi-
tion, and I am glad it has been by some of the distinguished con-
stitutional authorities. But let me ask you, do you think gays and
lesbians ought to be prohibited from living in a particular commu-
nity?
Mr. Bauer. I think that— are you dealing with the rental issue
or the question of whether
63
Senator Kennedy. Let's take both. Let's take the rental and then
let's take just living in a community. Should a local housing com-
munity with a number of different homes be permitted to have
some kind — those in these various subdivisions say that we will not
permit gays and lesbians to own houses.
Mr. Bauer. I think that a healthy society will allow property
owners to exercise moral judgment in who they rent their apart-
ments out to.
Senator Kennedy. So you
Mr. Bauer. So if I have got an apartment unit for rent in my
home and three transvestites come to rent it, I would like to have
the right under the Constitution to say you are not the type of ten-
ant I want in my home.
Senator Kennedy. Well, we all have the Mrs. Murphy example
from the civil rights position. What if they have a thousand units?
As a matter of policy, would you say that you support a position
in a 1,000-unit complex that there could not be the rental to gay
or lesbian couples?
Mr. Bauer. Senator, I want to be as clear about this as I can.
I believe that it is a gigantic mistake and ill advised to add sexual
preference to any Federal civil rights law.
The Chairman. Senator, your time is long gone. I have permitted
a lot of leeways here.
Senator Kennedy. Well, I have just one final
The Chairman. I will permit one more question, and then we will
move on.
Senator Kennedy. Fine. What about doing something — as Sen-
ator Simon pointed out, the incidence of violence against gays and
lesbians is dramatic all across this country. Do you think we ought
to do anything to try and protect their safety and their security
with any Federal intervention? We have just passed legislation now
with regards to arson and the burning, the hideous behavior of
cowards in burning black churches. We know as well that the inci-
dence of violence against gays and lesbians has been documented.
Do you think we ought to try and provide additional Federal legis-
lation to protect their safety, protect their security in local commu-
nities?
Mr. Bauer. Senator Kennedy, when you had to leave, I made a
very clear statement condemning gay-bashing, physical attacks
against people based on their sexual proclivities. I think that any
assault on any individual for any reason ought to be prosecuted to
the full extent of the law. And I look forward to the time when gay
rights groups will also join in condemning the repeated incidents
around the country where church services have been disrupted, St.
Patrick's Cathedral just a few years ago, where condoms were
thrown during the taking of Communion. There is a problem, I
think, on both sides of the issue of unacceptable conduct, and it
ought to be condemned by all men and women of good will.
Senator Kennedy. Well, if I could just get an answer to the ques-
tion. No one is justifying that kind of inappropriate behavior. No
one is suggesting that. I am talking about the physical violence and
incidents that cost people's lives.
Mr. Bauer. I am against it, Senator
64
Senator Kennedy. Are you in support of a Federal statute that
would prosecute those individuals that are perpetrating those kinds
of crimes?
Mr. Bauer. I guess where my hesitation is, is there some evi-
dence that there is a State in the Union that does not prosecute
to the full extent of the law
Senator Kennedy. Well, there are clear examples where that is
happening, and it has escalated, and it has been documented with
the hate crimes legislation. And the question I was asking was
whether you are bothered by that sufficiently where you think that
there ought to be a more vigorous prosecution of those particular
activities. And I have to gather from your failure to respond that
you don't.
The Chairman. I don't think
Mr. Bauer. No, no.
The Chairman. I don't think that is fair, though. As the chair-
man, I am saying it is not fair. Go ahead and answer it, though.
Mr. Bauer. Senator, my hesitation is that federalism philosophy
that you all were so enthused about a couple of hours ago but seem
to have forgotten now, I generally don't support federalizing as-
sault, et cetera. If someone can make the case to me that States
are routinely ignoring physical assaults and robberies and other
things against people because the victim is a homosexual, then it
is something we ought to talk about.
The Chairman. All right. Senator
Senator Feinstein. Senator Kennedy, would you yield for just
one moment on that point?
The Chairman. He doesn't have any time.
Senator Simon? In fact, he has used all of our time. We will go
to Senator Simon.
Senator Simon. Mr. Sunstein, you said this is a nonsolution here.
But let's just say the State — you are familiar with the State of Ha-
waii situation, and as a member of the University of Chicago Law
School faculty, you are an able lawyer. If you wanted to drag that
out, that decision, as you look at it, how soon ultimately would a
final decision be made?
Mr. Sunstein. Two years.
Senator SiMON. So there is no necessity for our doing anything
for the next 2 years even if you differ with your conclusion that
this is a nonsolution?
Mr. Sunstein. I think that in view of the fact that we won't have
the problem, if it is a problem, for 2 years, in view of the fact that
this is a problem, if it is a problem, that the Federal system has
handled plenty well enough for well over 200 years, and in view of
the fact that there are very serious constitutional problems with
authorizing States to ignore other States' judgment, this is from
the standpoint of federalism and constitutional law ill advised.
Senator SiMON. Ms. Henderson, your statement was eloquent.
You mentioned about your son going into the hospital, and I want
to ask Mr. Bauer and Mr. Zwiebel this: She talked about her son
going into the hospital with his living partner, and his partner
could not authorize medical action. If you were a State legislator
and if you were faced with this kind of a situation, do you think
there ought to be some way for people in this situation—don't call
65
it marriage, give it another name, but that people should be able
to have a contractual relationship where someone's life can be
saved in this way?
Mr. Bauer. Well, Senator Simon, help me, if you will. What is
State law now if a live-in heterosexual couple who is not married,
one of them falls ill, is the heterosexual live-in couple permitted to
give permission at a hospital?
Senator Simon. If someone was in a coma, I gather, was uncon-
scious, yes, then the spouse can sign for
Mr. Bauer. Well, a spouse can, but your opinion is that States
routinely allow heterosexual couples that live together to exercise
that legal authority?
Senator Simon. I frankly don't know what the situation is in Illi-
nois.
Mr. Bauer. I don't believe they do.
Senator SiMON. But let's just assume that it is a common-law
marriage. I don't know.
Mr. Bauer. Right. I don't believe they do. I think that, for better
or worse, we have not extended to other relationships the same
rights and authority that we extend to married couples.
Now, I have heard similar stories that are perhaps not as dra-
matic about an individual not being able to visit a sick partner in
the hospital because they don't have a marriage relationship or
whatever, and I would advise hospitals to change regulations that
would keep someone who loved Ms. Henderson's son out of his hos-
pital room. But I would not recommend changing the definition of
marriage to do so.
Senator SiMON. Mr. Zwiebel?
Mr. Zwiebel. Well, it is always nice to go second on a question
like this, but I think that Mr. Bauer's point is very well taken. The
law currently, as I understand it, in at least most of the States, is
that where there is no formal relationship between people who live
together, whether they be homosexual or heterosexual, that there
are certain limitations that the law does impose or certain
nonrecognitions that the law implies with respect to their ability to
make decisions with respect to the health care or with respect to
other matters that ordinarily a next of kin or a spouse might be
able to make.
I think that there may be a strong basis for society to start
thinking about whether that general understanding of who has the
authority to make life-and-death decisions when a person is incapa-
ble of making them on his or her own behalf is in order. And that
is a general issue that transcends the question of same-sex couples.
It is an issue that extends way beyond that and deserves some
careful consideration by society at large.
I think that the point that you are trying to make is well taken.
The point, obviously, is that there needs to be some mechanism in
our legal system which allows for circumstances where people, in
fact, Imow one another's wishes are in a position to be knowledge-
able of the desires of the incapacitated patient to be able to assume
certain authorities. I don't believe, though, that the way we can ac-
complish— ^we can address that need is by changing the definition
of marriage or, frankly, by recognizing — where we don't even need
to recognize any formal familial relationship between the two peo-
66
pie. We can say that for purposes of X, Y, Z, whatever it may be,
of medical decisionmaking, we may need to expand the group of
people who can make those t5T)es of decisions.
Senator SiMON. My time has expired, but if I may just follow
through, v/ould you agree with Mr. Bauer that you would rec-
ommend to hospitals that they change their regulations?
Mr. ZwiEBEL. Obviously, the answer to that is that — in principle,
yes. In practice, you would like to see the kind of language that
would be developed, because when you have a legal relationship
such as marriage, we understand that one partner is espoused to
the other. Other relationships which have no formal legal recogni-
tion need to be very carefully defined, and ordinarily, the way the
law has dealt with it all this time is by looking at those relation-
ships that are defined — next of kin. To go beyond that will require
some very, very careful draftsmanship and consideration by the
broader society, but it is an issue.
Senator Simon. I thank you all.
Mr. Bauer. Senator Simon, my able assistant, who is much
brighter than I, has reminded me that under current law in the
States, anyone can give the power of attorney to someone else to
make decisions, financially and otherwise.
The Chairman. Did you want to say something, Ms. Henderson?
Ms. Henderson. Yes. Everybody here is talking about theory. I
am talking about the reality that families face. The reality is that
for my son and his partner there is no legal relationship possible.
They have gone through all kinds of contortions and expenses to
get legal documents that will allow one to inherit from another, but
they still will not get Social Security survivor benefits, they will
still not get all of the things that my other children who are mar-
ried can get.
It is part of the — their relationship is a lifetime relationship. It
has no legal status. For my other children who have a legal status,
there is no question. But for my gay child, there are always ques-
tions— always questions about whether any agency, any health care
facility will recognize their relationships, any other facility.
I also want to speak about — ^you talk about this as if families
were not involved. You talk about children. You talk about their
need for protection, their need for stable families. The organization
that I represent has many, many families whose gay children are
raising children. They are being raised in two-parent households
where the parents are not allowed to marry. These are children
who are growing up with gay and lesbian parents who are not al-
lowed to marry, and yet they are being raised as families. This is
a major issue for us. These are our grandchildren. The rights of
custody as grandparents, who is able to care for those children, is
very important to us.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator SiMON. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Simon.
Senator Feinstein, we will turn to you.
Senator Feinstein. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Just a point of interest to Mr. Bauer. In 1971, when I was presi-
dent of the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco, I authored legis-
lation to amend the antidiscrimination statutes for housing and
67
employment, adding the words "sex" and "sexual orientation" — not
"preference," Mr. Bauer, but "orientation." And San Francisco is a
large corporate financial headquarters city. To date, I have never
had an employer or others tell me that there was any evidence of
employer snooping because of that statute. Never, to my knowl-
edge, has there been a problem with it from the point of view that
you have raised. There have been instances where people have
brought cases because they were really unjustly denied employ-
ment, and those cases were looked at. In some cases, the findings
were for the plaintiff, and in some cases, they weren't.
I know of no instances of problems like you have just indicated,
and it has had about 25 years now of active support. I would like,
if I could
Mr. Bauer. Senator Feinstein, I would be happy to give you for
the record cases of many, many employers in your State who have
been twisted into contortion of various shapes because of that law.
We found out about a case just the other day
Senator Feinstein. This was not a State law. Let's get it right,
Mr. Bauer. This is not a State law. This is a county law I am
speaking of.
Mr. Bauer. Well, I assume you also support the State law
Senator Feinstein. It has nothing to do with the rest of the
State.
Mr. Bauer. All right. So
Senator Feinstein. I am up here, and you are down there. I
would appreciate the opportunity to ask the questions.
The Chairman. But let him answer if he — ^he wanted to give an
answer so allow him to answer, and then proceed from there. So
go ahead.
Mr. Bauer [continuing]. Not to put too fine a line on it. Senator,
I assume you also support the State nondiscrimination law on sex-
ual orientation.
Senator Feinstein. I support — I basically believe that people
have the right to a job and a right to housing. I don't support inap-
propriate behavior. Behavior and orientation are two different
things. And one of the problems I find, Mr. Bauer, is that people
often take instances of inappropriate behavior by some and apply
them to the whole group. And that is a terrible injustice to do.
Mr. Bauer. It is, indeed. I have been on the receiving end of that,,
approach myself.
Senator Feinstein. In any event, if I might go on, I would appre-
ciate it, since the chairman is very strict with the allocation of
time. I appreciate the ability to make the point.
Professor Wardle, let me ask you this question. You state in your
remarks,
Suppose a same-sex couple from Utah flew to Hawaii, got married, got a declara-
tory Judgment of the valiaity of their marriage, and then retxirned to Utah, which
prohibits same-sex marriage and also prohibits the recognition of out-of-State same-
sex marriages, and demanded that Utah recognize their marriage or the incident
of their marriage.
You state.
In my opinion, that marriage would flaunt and undermine a strong public policy
of Utah and would be sufficient to justify Utah's refusal to recognize same-sex mar-
riage.
y
/■
68
If this is the case — and I believe it is, and I think you have elo-
quently made you argument — why, then, is this legislation nec-
essary?
Mr. Wardle. Senator Feinstein, if I were the judge or if I were
all judges — if I were king judge for the day — that would be the
case. But I am not. There are courts that will disagree. There are
certainly respected scholars who have written and expressed dis-
agreement, and there is — if the California Supreme Court were to
face the issue, there is no certainty how they would rule.
How Utah rules, what Utah's policy is regarding recognition of
same-sex marriages from other States is subordinate to Federal
law, that is, the Federal full faith and credit statutes, as well as
Federal. So Utah's position could be trumped by an interpretation
of the Federal full faith and credit rules that said, sorry, Utah, re-
gardless of how you interpret it. Federal law requires it to be inter-
preted a different way. Aiid this legislation, section 2 of this legis-
lation, is addressed to that threat — the threat that is very real, not
speculative. Very real. It has been openly espoused that Federal
full faith and credit rules should be interpreted and applied so as
to prevent Utah from applying its marriage recognition rule, say-
ing, sorry, Utah, you have to recognize. Federal law forces you to
recognize same-sex marriages from abroad. That is the concern.
Senator Feinstein. But Federal law doesn't demand it, any more
than it does with bigamy or polygamy or age involving these rela-
tionships, as I understand it.
Mr. Wardle. And that is what this statute should also clarify.
This statute expressly makes that the rule. It is no longer a matter
of speculation or debate. It is no longer a matter of curiosity. I
agree that that is what the Federal rule should be, but I am not
always in the majority in the academic world on this issue in par-
ticular. There has been a tremendous amount of writing on the
other side.
Senator Feinstein. Mr. Sunstein, would you like to respond?
Mr. Sunstein. Yes. Maybe the simplest way to put it is that this
bill is either unnecessary, if Professor Wardle's view, which is the
traditional view, is right, or it is constitutionally troublesome. So
there are two prongs of the dilemma. Either if the traditional view
holds — and I think there is overwhelming authority to this effect —
then this is a redundant and wasteful bill. If it is not redundant
and wasteful, then it is the first time in the Nation's history that
Congress has told States that they may ignore judgments that
would otherwise be binding from other States. If that is the case,
then we should think of this bill not as a bill about homosexuality
and same-sex marriage, but a bill involving national permission to
States to ignore other States' judgments.
Now, that is a very big deal. That is not about same-sex mar-
riage and homosexuality. That is about punitive damages, default
judgments, products liability — everything under the sun. From the
constitutional point of view, this is no fundamentally a same-sex
marriage act. It is fundamentally an act about national permission,
and Professor Wardle and Senator Hatch are exactly right. This is
permission, not requirement, but Federal permission to some
States to ignore what other States have mandated. That is a very
large step.
69
Senator Feinstein, If I understand it, just to-
The Chairman. Senator, could Professor Wardle respond?
Senator Feinstein. Yes, certainly.
Mr. Wardle. I would just like to point out that I am not sure
how something can either be pointless on the one hand or unconsti-
tutional on the other, because if it is pointless or harmless, I don't
think that it could be unconstitutional.
Mr. SuNSTEiN. Right, not pointless and unconstitutional. Point-
less or unconstitutional.
Mr. Wardle. But I don't think that if it is pointless, then it is
harmless, and if it is harmless, I don't think that it raises to the
level of an unconstitutional problem.
Mr. SUNSTEIN. I agree.
Senator Feinstein. Could I ask you to respond to something that
CRS says in their analysis? Let me read it to you.
The Defense of Marriage Act differs in one critical aspect from the legislative en-
actments passed by Congress under its fiill faith and credit power. The DOMA per-
mits sister States to give no effect to the laws of other States. This is a novel ap-
proach to legislating under Congress' full faith and credit enforcement power. The
constitution^ity of this approach depends in large part upon the scope of Congress'
enforcement power under tne second sentence of the full faith and credit clause. The
issue is whether the authority of Congress to proscribe the effect of marriage ex-
tends to this type of legislation.
Would you agree with that?
Mr. SUNSTEIN. Well, when you said CRS, I hesitated for a mo-
ment, because those are my initials, but I assume you mean the
Congressional Research Service. [Laughter.]
Senator Feinstein. Yes.
The Chairman. I didn't realize that. I have been putting too
much credibility in CRS. [Laughter.]
Mr. SUNSTEIN. Maybe I should answer most simply by saying I
agree with CRS.
Senator Feinstein. Mr. Wardle, would you like to comment?
Mr. Wardle. Well, I think that — what is the main point? What
is the main criticism?
Senator Feinstein. The main criticism, first of all, is that this
would permit sister States to give no effect to the laws of other
States. And then it makes the point that this is a novel approach
to legislating under Congress' full faith and credit power. But it
says the constitutionality of this approach depends on the scope of
Congress' enforcement power under the second sentence of the full
faith and credit clause. So the issue becomes whether Congress has
the authority to proscribe the effect of marriage, whether it ex-
tends, whether that authority extends to this type of legislation.
Mr. Wardle. With respect to that statement, I think that I
would agree with that statement. I think that the difference be-
tween positive language and negative language is overstated. In
fact, section 1738(a) of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of
title 28, which is a full faith and credit statute, says that States
must recognize custody decrees when they are issued by a court
that has exercised jurisdiction on certain bases — ^A, B, C. That also
says that if they exercise jurisdiction based on D, E, or F grounds,
they do not have to recognize.
So that section 1738(a) is an example of a statute that has both
a positive and a neutral provision. I just don't think that the dif-
70
ference or the distinction has any constitutional significance, at
least with respect to this legislation.
Senator Feinstein. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Feinstein.
I want to thank each of the witnesses. Each of you has expressed
yourself I think very, very well. This has been a terrific hearing,
in my opinion, and I think it is a subject that deserves this type
of consideration. I have to say that, you know, some of us believe
that the law deserves to be clarified in this area even though it
may not be earth-shaking or monumental, to borrow some of your
logic, Professor Sunstein. But each of you has been important here
today. We have had a variety of points of view, and I just want to
thank each of you for being here. I think you have enlightened this
committee. You have challenged us, and we will try to do what is
right here.
Thank you very much. With that, we will recess until further no-
tice.
[Whereupon, at 12:12 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]
APPENDIX
Proposed Legislation
11
104Tn CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1740
To define and protect the institution of marriage.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 8, 1996
Mr. NiCKLES (for himself and Mr. DOLE) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciarj'
A BILL
To define and protect the institution of marriage.
1 Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the "Defense of Marriage
.5 Act".
6 SEC. 2. POWERS RESERVED TO THE STATES.
7 (a) In General. — Chapter 115 of title 28, United
8 States Code, is amended by adding after section 1738B
9 the following:
(71)
72
2
1 "§ 1738C. Certain acts, records, and proceedings and
2 the effect thereof
3 "No State, territory, or possession of the United
4 States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to
5 any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other
6 State, territor^v possession,_or- tribe respecting a relation-
7 ship between persons of the same sex that is treated as
8 a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory,
9 possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such
10 relationship.".
11 (b) Clerical Amendment. — The table of sections
12 at the beginning of chapter 115 of title 28, United States
13 Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
14 section 1738B the following new item:
"1738C. Certain acts, records, and proceedings and the effect thereof".
1 5 SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.
16 (a) In General. — Chapter 1 of title 1, United
17 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the follow-
18 ing:
19 "§ 7. Definition of ^marriage' and 'spouse'
20 "In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress,
21 or of any ruUng, regulation, or interpretation of the var-
22 ious adnunistrative bureaus and agencies of the United
23 States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union be-
24 tween one man and one woman as husband and wife, and
•S 1740 IS
73
3
1 the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite
2 sex who is a husband or a wife.".
3 (b) Clerical Amendment. — The table of sections
4 at the beginning of chapter 1 of title 1, United States
5 Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
6 section 6 the follo-wing new item:
"7. Definition of 'marriage' and 'spouse'.".
o
•S 1740 IS
74
Additional Submissions for the Record
American Civil Liberties Union,
Washington National Office,
Washington, DC, July 10, 1996.
Senator Orrin G. Hatch,
Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Hatch: The American Civil Liberties Union, Washington National
Office and tiie Gay and Lesbian Rights Project, respectfully submits the enclosed
testimony to be entered into the record of the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings
on the Defense of Marriage Act (S. 1740). Our testimony articvilates our continued
opposition to the bill. The ACLU has long advocated for the rights of lesbians and
gay men. We believe the principle of equality requires that same-sex couples be al-
lowed the right to marry.
We appreciate yovu" inclusion of testimony from all sides of the issue. Shoxild you
or yovu* office require additional information, please contact our offices.
Sincerely,
(Signed) Laura W. Murphy
(Typed) LAURA W. MURPHY,
Director.
(Signed) H. Alexander Robinson
(Typed) H. Alexander Robinson,
Legislative Representative.
American Civil Liberties Union,
Washington National Office,
Washington, DC, July 10. 1996.
Senator Orrin G. Hatch,
Russell Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Hatch: The American Civil Liberties Union \irges you to oppose
the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). We believe this bill to be bad policy as well
as unconstitutional. It is nothing but election-year grandstanding at the expense of
gay and lesbian individuals, and at the expense of real, pressing issues overlooked
by Congress. For yoxir review, we have enclosed our testimony which has been sub-
mitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The American Civil Liberties Union also urges yovu* support for the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) should it come up as an amendment to DOMA.
While we continue to oppose the underlying bill, ENDA is a step in the right direc-
tion for Congress to take with regard to gay and lesbian issues.
ENDA strikes at the core of real, present day concerns of gays and lesbians, spe-
cifically employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Furthermore, the
American people believes employment discrimination of gays and lesbians to be a
real problem that should be addressed. In a recent Newsweek poll, 84 percent of
Americans supported equal rights for gay people and oppose job discrimination. In
addition, ENDA enjoys the support of major corporations — such as AT&T, Eastman
Kodak, Microsoft, Quaker Oats, RJR Nabisco, and Xerox— and the support of 30
Senate co-sponsors.
Lastly, we beUeve that a vote on ENDA is important at this time so that a broad-
er discussion on gay and lesbian issues is facilitated. The civil Uberties of gay and
lesbian individuals are no less important to us than the civil liberties of other seg-
ments of our society. The sooner we have open debates on gay and lesbian issues,
the sooner their grievances can be addressed.
I
75
Please show your opposition to unjust and unconstitutional discrimination against
gays and lesbians— the Defense of Marriage Act. Show your support for a remedy
which addresses real concerns — ^the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Sincerely
(Signed) H. Alexander Robinson
(Typed) H. Alexander Robinson,
Legislative Representative.
Prepared Statement of the American Civil Liberties Union, Submitted by
Laura W. Murphy, Director, Washington Office; Matthew Coles, Director,
Gay & Lesbian Rights Project; and H. Alexander Robinson, Legislative
Representative
A. Introduction
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) appreciates the opportunity to pro-
vide this testimony. The ACLU is a private, nonprofit organization of more than
275,000 members, dedicated to the preservation of civil liberties enshrined in the
Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union believes
that S. 1740, the Defense of Marriage Act, is unconstitutional, and that it is bad
public policy.
The ACLU supports legal recognition of lesbian and gay relationships, and it be-
lieves lesbians and gay men shoiSd have the right to marry. Nothing else wovild ac-
cord complete legal equality to lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.
Civil marriage is the way our society defines one's most intimate, committed rela-
tionships; it is the only vehicle our society has for recognizing the existence of pri-
mary relationships not defined by blood. That has powerful emotional consequences,
and powerful practical consequences as well. Our society uses marriage to identify
our partners for everjrthing from retirement programs, to critical medical decisions,
to the simple right to be together in crisis situations, like hospital emergency rooms.
While S. 1740 does not itself deny lesbians and gay men the right to marry, it
would for the first time deny federal recognition to state licensed marriages. Clearly,
this legislation is designed to be a preemptive strike to nxillify the rights that may
be conferred by Hawaii and other states to same sex couples.
S. 1740 woiild also for the first time make it federal policy that a state is firee
to disregard some marriages of some couples who were legally married in another
state. This could have very unfair, and in some cases tragic consequences for couples
who travel across the country, because their jobs are transferred to other states, or
because of the desire to be near relatives, or for any number of legitimate reasons.
Among the consequences of S. 1740 would be to deny federal recognition of a state
sanctioned marriage and the rights to:
• take bereavement or sick leave to care for a partner or a partner's child;
• qualify for pension or social security continuation when a partner dies;
• keep a jointly owned home if a partner goes on Medicaid;
• file joint tax returns and quality for spousal exemptions on income and estate
taxes;
• qualify for veterans' discounts on medical care, education and home loans based
on a partner's service;
• apply for immigration and residency for partners fi"om other countries.
We also believe that it is extremely unwise to proceed with this legislation with-
out the benefit of additional hearings. This legislation raises complex legal questions
that should be fiilly considered by Members of Congress before they are compelled
to cast their vote.
B. Constitutional issues raised by S. 1740
1. FULL faith and CREDIT — EQUAL PROTECTION
S. 1740 is unconstitutional because it constitutes discrimination against lesbians
and gay men under the due process clause of the Fifi;h Amendment and because it
violates Article IV section 1 of the Constitution (the "Full Faith and Credit clause").
76
a. Full faith and credit
First, S. 1740 violates the Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution (the "Fvill Faith
and Credit" clause). Article IV says:
Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts,
records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress
may by general laws prescribe tiie manner in which such acts, records and
proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.
Section 2 of S. 1740 would allow state courts to ignore judgments from courts in
other states "respecting" marriages between two persons of the same sex. Among
the judgments which typically involve marriage are judgments of divorce, judgments
awarding support or dividing property in connection with a divorce or separation,
and judgments about obligations incurred because of marriage, like loan obligations,
and obligations to vendors Like hospitals, health care providers.
The United States Supreme Court has niled again and again that the Full Faith
and Credit clause obligates every state to respect the judgments of other state
courts, including judgments of divorce. See, e.g., Williams v. North Carolina, 317
U.S. 287, 294 (1947); Sherrer v. Sherrer, 334 U.S. 343, 354-356 (1948).
The court has allowed two limited exceptions to that rule. First, a forum state
does not have to respect the judgment of a sister state that ptirports to transfer title
to real estate within the fonim state. Second, a state does not have to respect
"penal" judgments from other state courts. See, e.g.. Fall v. Eastin, 215 U.S. 1
(1909) and Huntington v. Attrill, 146 U.S. 657 (1892). Neither of those exceptions
could remotely be stretched to fit S. 1740. Moreover, there is no "poUcjr" exception.
States which disagree with the poUcy behind a law on which a judgment is based
must enforce the judgment nonetneless. See, e.g., Williams v. North Carolina, supra,
317 U.S. at 294; Sherrer v. Sherrer, supra, 334 U.S. at 354-356; and see Fauntteroy
V. Lum. 210 U.S. 230, 237 (1908).
While the Supreme Court has never decided what it means to say that one state
must accord Full Faith and Credit to a state created "status" hke a marriage out-
side the context of a judgment, it seems clear that at a minimum, states are not
free to completely ignore them. The Commerce Clause and the right to travel from
state to state, even without Article IV, would seem to prevent states from ignoring
marriages in interstate commercial transactions, or wnen the people of one state
travel to another. See, e.g., Shapiro v. Thompson, 394 U.S. 618, 629 (1969).
Moreover, while Article IV doubtless gives Congress the power to decide how the
judgments and acts of one state are to be proven in another, that power does not
extend to nullifying Article IVs basic requirement of Full Faith and Credit. Con-
gress can not, under the guise of deciding what effect to give to judgments and acts
which have been proven under a mechanism it has created, decide that no Faith
and Credit need be given at all. See, e.g., Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486, 550
(1969) (Congress has the power to decide if its members have the quaUfications set
out in the Constitution, but it may not, in the guise of doing so, manufacture addi-
tional qualifications). See also, Thomas v. Washington Gas Light Co., 448 U.S. 261,
272 n. 18 (1980). That, however, is precisely what the bill purports to do.
Equal protection '
Second, this entire bill violates the equal protection guarantee of the Due Process
Clause of the Fift;h Amendment. The third section of the bill creates a definition of
marriage for all federal purposes. The definition says that a marriage means "only
a legal union between one man and one woman * * *." Just as the law struck down
in Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 ( 1967) discriminated on the basis of race because
it made one's ability to marry depend on one's race, this bill discriminates on the
basis of sex because it makes one's ability to marry depend on one's gender. It mat-
ters not that neither men nor women are unequally disadvantaged by the ban;
whites and blacks were punished alike for violating the law in Loving as well. Lov-
ing V. Virginia, 388 U.S. at 11. The right to equahty is a personal right, not a group
right. See, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265, 289-290
(1978).
Classifications which discriminate on the basis of gender must be substantially re-
lated to some important government purpose. Craig v. Boren, 429 U.S. 190, 204
(1976). The onlv justification for the classincation that appears from the proponents
of the bill is that it would preserve what they regard as the "traditional" under-
standing of marriage. See, Senator Don NicWes The Defense of Marriage Act."
Quite apart from the fact that this ignores a 200 year tradition of allowing each
state to define marriage, and using those definitions for federal purposes, tradition
by itself is not an important government purpose. If it were, sex discrimination
would be the quite permissible; discrimination against women has a pedigree in tra-
77
dition at least as long and time honored as that of discrimination against same sex
couples in marriage. See, e.g., Bradwell v. State, 83 U.S. 130, 141 (1873) (Bradley,
J., concurring); and see Stanton v. Stanton, 421 U.S. 7, 14-15 (1975).
Furthermore, to the extent that S. 1740 was intended to disadvantage lesbians
and gay men it is constitutionally suspect for that reason as well. This bill dis-
enfranchises lesbians and gay men in their efforts to gain recognition for their most
intimate relationship. In ovir view, sexual orientation classifications should be treat-
ed as suspect, like race and, we believe, gender classifications. See Watkins v. U.S.
Army, 837 F.2d 1428, affd. on other grounds, 875 F.2d 699 (9th Cir. 1989); contra
High Tech Gays v. D.I.S.C.O., 895 F.2d 563 (9th Cir. 1990). But regardless of wheth-
er Courts treat classifications which disadvantage lesbians and gay men as suspect,
it is clear that like all other classifications, they must serve some legitimate govern-
mental purpose. A mere desire to harm the group which is disadvantaged is not a
legitimate purpose. United States Department of Agriculture v. Moreno, 413 U.S.
528, 534 (1973); Romer v. Evans, U.S. , 64 U.S.L.W. 4353, 4356-4357
(1996). Yet S. 1740 rests on nothing more. Saying that discrimination is nothing
new and that one would like to keep it up does not come close to explaining what
legitimate interest a classification serves.
As Justice Holmes put it:
It is revolting to have no better reason for a rule of law than that it was
so laid down in the time of Henry IV. It is still more revolting if the
grounds upon which it was laid down have vanished long since, and the
rule simply persists from blind imitation of the past.
O.W. Holmes, "Collected Legal Papers," (Boston, A. Harcourt, 1920), p. 187.
C Public policy
Finally, the bill is very bad policy. We are a nation governed by one Constitution.
We are not a collection of small nations with contiguous borders. It does not make
sense to say to Americans that the existence of their marriages depends on which
states they travel through on vacation, or which statea their employer transfers
them. Americans have a right to go from state to state, without having to surrender
their most intimate relationship as a price of traveling or relocating. Moreover, this
bill would create a complex set of legal and logistical problems which have not been
fully examined. Since (Congress has never sought to do ansrthing of this kind ques-
tions about estates, taxes, securities and exchange laws, joint property and shared
Uability for debt have not been addressed by any of the relevant committees or spon-
sors of this bill.
As noted above, civil marriage is the way our society defines a person's committed
relationships. If one can not marry his or her partner, the two can be legally ignored
and discriminated agadnst in ways, great and small, that would not be tolerated for
a moment by the courts if they were married. For example, an unmarried partner
can be excluded from the other partner's bedside when crucial medical decisions are
made, and even at death. The lack of legal standing may preclude any authority
to carry out the partners wishes.
Marriage is the device our society uses to identify partners for virtually every
practical situation in which it is important to identity the person who is closest to
you. To that end the Supreme Court has held that marriage is a fundamental right.
See Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U.S. 374 (1978) (holding that the freedom to marry is
a fundamental Uberty protected by the Due Process Clause).
The fact that a state allows same-sex couples to marry would not require any reli-
gious institution to recognize or perform such marriages. State marriage laws are
entirely separate from religious practices in our country. The granting of civil mar-
riage to same-sex couples would not impose any requirements on religious groups,
but rather would ensure equal access to the complex structure of rights and respon-
sibilities that civil marriage has become.
Marriage is not premised on procreation. See Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S.
479 (1965) (right of marital privacy prohibits government from interfering with ef-
forts to actively avoid procreation). In any event, many different-sex couples do not
choose or are unable to have children and many same-sex couples do have children.
While marriage has traditionally been defined as a union between people of dif-
ferent sexes, it was also traditionally defined as between people of the same race.
As recently as 1967 state governments denied interracial couples the right to marry.
Loving V. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967). Marriage was also traditionally understood
to involve a man owning a woman as property. We've recognized that these tradi-
tions had to be abandoned because they were unfair.
78
We live in a society which attaches enormous civil, legal consequences to mar-
riage. For example, a person's ability to keep the home she or he has shared with
a partner for 20, 30 or more years will depend on their marriage status, especiallv
if they are Medicaid recipients or die intestate. A person's abiUty to care for a sick
or dying partner in most health care facilities depends on whether they are married.
Most state laws treat partners who have not married as strangers. It is fundamen-
tally unfair to say on the one hand that you must marry to be treated as next of
kin, and then to tell an entire class of Americans who are next of kin in every real
sense that they may not marry.
D. Summary
This bill is bad constitutional law and bad policy. For 200 years, Congress has
left it to the states to decide who they will marry, and to courts to make sure they
respect each otiier's decisions on that. That is a fine tradition, which ought to be
respected. This bill throws it on the trash heap and belittles the relationships of les-
bian and gay citizens. Apart from being an unmistakable violation of the Constitu-
tion, it is a deplorable act of hostility unworthy of the support.
O
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