“Every loving, committed couple deserves the basic human right to get married, start a family, and have access to all the same rights and privileges that my husband and I enjoy,” - Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator

In March of 2011, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stood with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and 17 of her Senate colleagues to introduce the Respect for Marriage Act.  This legislation would end the current discrimination under federal law by repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The Respect for Marriage Act would provide all loving committed couples in America the same federal benefits and protections of marriage as straight couples.

Watch Senator Gillibrand at the announcement press conference ask, "What is it about discrimination that you like?" 

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

• File joint Federal income taxes and claim certain deductions;
• Receive spousal benefits under Social Security;
• Take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act when a loved one falls seriously ill;
• Obtain the protections of the estate tax when one spouse passes and wants to leave his or her possessions to another.

Senator Gillibrand believes that marriage gives loving committed couples the base they need to build a lasting life together, start a family, and put their children on a path to a successful future. Senator Gillibrand also believes that when we take that away from millions of couples in America, we don’t just limit their freedoms and happiness, we hold our whole country back.

Just as she fought to end nearly 20 years of injustice in our military with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Senator Gillibrand is now fighting to end discrimination currently enshrined into U.S. law and make marriage equality a reality for all.