212 Democrats from both chambers have signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to rule in favor of same-sex marriage once the high court weighs the Constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act later this month.
“DOMA imposes a sweeping and unjustifiable federal disability on married same-sex couples,” the brief reads.
The announcement comes one day after the White House signaled that they would be urging the Court to support gay marriage in a separate case regarding California’s Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that allowed voters to change the state’s Constitution to prohibit gay marriage.
The administration has previously signaled its opposition to DOMA, announcing in 2011 that the Justice Department would no longer defend the law.
Without the White House supporting the law in Court, Republican lawmakers appointed a separate general counsel, a move the Democrats who signed the amicus brief decried.
“The amicus brief filed today makes clear that [the Republican hired counsel] does not speak for Congress,” a statement from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s office reads.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also signed onto the brief.
The full list of the signatories and the text of the brief can be found here.
