WASHINGTON — A bill introduced in Congress Tuesday that would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act demonstrates the increasing amount of contempt America’s political leaders appear to have for the values of the people they serve, say attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, who argue that the DOMA is completely constitutional and in tune with the beliefs of Americans. ADF attorneys point out that repeal of the primary federal law that protects marriage opens the door for litigation that would seek to force states to recognize “marriages” between members of the same sex.

“Marriage is not just any two people in a committed relationship. There’s more to a marriage than that. A decisive majority of Americans believe this, and they are tired of being treated with contempt by politicians,” said ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum. “Many of those in favor of this bill argue that the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act is not intended to force same-sex ‘marriage’ on all the states.  If that is not the intent, its supporters wouldn’t be seeking to repeal the section of DOMA that makes it clear that states have a right to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

Ninety members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the repeal as the “Respect for Marriage Act.”

“That’s like introducing a tax hike called the ‘Tax Reduction Bill.’ The government is not respecting marriage when it repeals protections of it,” said Raum.

The Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for federal purposes. DOMA was passed by Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996. ADF attorneys have repeatedly defended and are defending the federal DOMA in court. Since its inception in 1994, ADF has been involved in defending marriage in every major legal battle in the United States.

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, same-sex couples represent only 0.4% of the total U.S. population. A May 27, 2009, Gallup poll reports the lowest support for same-sex “marriage” in four years (40%, compared to 59% opposed) and that public support for it “has appeared to stall.” According to the poll, most Americans say that “allowing two people of the same sex to marry will change our society for the worse.” A 2006 Rasmussen poll found that “just 12% of Americans believe that judges should determine issues like same-sex marriage.  Only 5% think that elected officials should make those decisions.  Overwhelmingly, 67% think that voters should make such decisions.”

In every state where voter initiatives are feasible, the people have voted to amend the state constitution to protect marriage: 30 out of 30 states.