• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

A List of Witnesses Speaking at Tomorrow’s DOMA Repeal Hearing, and Some Information on Each of Them

Andy Towle July 19, 2011

Leahy As I mentioned last week, Senator Patrick Leahy, (D-VT), is holding the first hearing on the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act tomorrow morning.

The hearing entitled “S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families” scheduled before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building will now take place in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building.

Here is the list of witnesses for the hearings tomorrow, and some information on each of them.

A live webcast will be available when the hearing begins at 10 am HERE.

PANEL I

The Honorable John Lewis, United States Congressman,State of Georgia.

The Honorable Jerrold Nadler, United States Congressman, State of New York.

PANEL II

Ron Wallen, Indio, CA.

Freedom to Marry writes: "Ron Wallen will … be testifying at the hearing this week about who DOMA has cost him his home after the death of his spouse and partner for 58 years, Tom Carrollo." Here is Ron's story:

video
play-rounded-fill
Link

*****

Thomas Minnery, Senior Vice President for Public Policy, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO.

From Think Progress:

"FOTF maintains ties to many state-level anti-equality groups and is helping them raise over $6 million to fight marriage equality over the next year through the covert 'Ignite An Enduring Cultural Tradition' campaign. The group also inherited the 'Day of Dialogue' (formerly 'Day of Truth') from ADF, which encourages Christian youth to be vocal about their anti-gay beliefs to show 'love' to their LGBT peers who are 'hurting' and 'vulnerable.' Last April, Minnery clarified that FOTF would oppose an openly gay nominee to the Supreme Court because homosexuality is sinful."

Minnery is in the middle in the video below, created by FOTF's internal propaganda machine:

video
play-rounded-fill
Link

*****

SorboAndrew Sorbo, Cheshire, CT

According to a notice from the committee:

"Andrew Sorbo (left), a Cheshire, Conn., resident who was married to Colin Atterbury (right). Before dying of pancreatic cancer in 2009, Atterbury was a retired Veterans Affairs hospital administrator and professor of medicine at Yale University. Sorbo, now retired, worked for 35 years as a history teacher and principal."

Read Sorbo's story from GLAD, here.

*****

Murray Susan M. Murray, Ferrisburgh, VT

According to a notice from the committee: 

"Susan Murray, who lives in Ferrisburgh, Vt., with her spouse, Karen Murray. An attorney with the Burlington office of Langrock, Sperry & Wool, Murray was the co-counsel in the lawsuit Baker v. Vermont, which established civil unions in Vermont in 2000."

 

PANEL III

Joe Solmonese, President, The Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC.

Solmonese is probably the most well-known witness to most of you. Here he is discussing Obama's announcement that the government would stop defending Section 3 of DOMA, in February:

video
play-rounded-fill
Link

*****

NimocksDavid Austin R. Nimocks, Senior Legal Counsel, Alliance Defense Fund, Washington, DC

From Think Progress: "ADF is one of the chief legal cogs in the conservative Christian propaganda machine. The group regularly opposes LGBT equality through the spreading of falsehoods and has previously partnered with Exodus International, which administers harmful ex-gay ministries. (Exodus calls ADF a 'friend.') The organization is vigilant about putting same-sex 'marriage' in condescending mocking quotes (even using SS'M' for short-hand in tweets) to imply that the unions of same-sex couples will always be inferior to those of opposite-sex couples. Simultaneous with these bullying tactics, ADF promotes the idea that anti-gay Christians are the victims of 'bigotry' and 'intolerance' against 'religious freedom.'"

*****

Edward Whelan, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, DC

Equality Matters writes: "National Review Online blogger Ed Whelan has spent the last sixteen months spearheading a campaign to overturn U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's 2010 decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger – the landmark case which found California's Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional. Whelan has consistently asserted that – as a gay man in a long-term relationship – Walker was a “direct beneficiary” of his decision to strike down the state's ban on same-sex marriage. As a result, Whelanargues, Walker should have either recused himself from the case or disclosed his sexual orientation and relationship status before the trial started."

Here's Whelan testifying at the Constitution Subcommittee of the House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee at a hearing titled “Defending Marriage" on April 15th:

video
play-rounded-fill
Link

UPDATE: Jeremy Hooper has an advance look at Minnery, Whelan and Nimocks' testimony.

*****

Evan Wolfson, Founder and Executive Director, Freedom to Marry, New York, NY

Freedom to Marry writes: "Evan was co-counsel of the historic Hawaii marriage case, served as marriage project director for Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, and was named one of TIME magazines '100 Most Influential People in the World.' He is also the author of “Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry”. As one of the most prominent voices in this movement and a person who has been personally affected by this discriminatory law, Evan's testimony will no doubt win hearts and minds and educate the SJC on why marriage matters. 

Here's Wolfson facing off against hate group leader Peter Sprigg about the House's Defense of DOMA in March.

video
play-rounded-fill
Link

*****

Dan_choiThe lack of diversity among the witnesses has angered some activists, most notably Lt. Dan Choi, who told the Washington Blade over the weekend:

“Marriage equality is a matter of civil rights, steeped in the language and moral lessons of the historic American struggle for inclusion and equality. That the panel of gay witnesses is exclusively white and privileged brings shameful discredit to the true character of our broad community and inclusive civil rights movement.”

Choi is pushing a petition online initiated by activist Ian Finkenbinder demanding that the Human Rights Campaign "Wake up from white privilege and diversify!"

According to the Blade, "HRC isn't responsible the selection of witnesses for the DOMA hearing. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chair of the committee, decides in consultation with outside groups which witnesses will present testimony."

Topics: Education, History, News More Posts About: discrimination, DOMA, DOMA, gay marriage, News

Related Posts
  • Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Survivor Benefits Payments For Same-Sex Partners Are Being Paid Under Biden, But Many Don’t Even Know They Qualify
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « In New Filing, DOJ Argues for Control of ‘Orderly’ ‘DADT’ Repeal
Next Post: WATCH LIVE: Rupert Murdoch Testimony Before Committee on News Corp Hacking Scandal »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • Born On This Day: Don Rickles
    Born on this day in 1926. Married to Barbara for 52 […]
  • Nathan Lane says his Hulu comedy ‘Mid-Century Modern’ is more than “the gay Golden Girls”
    Nathan Lane joined Deadline on The Actor’s Side to discuss his […]
  • Princess Kate repeated an Alessandra Rich dress for the VE Day service at the Abbey
    The Windsors gathered at Westminster Abbey earlier today for the service […]
  • “Leonardo DiCaprio did not want to be photographed at the Met Gala” links
    Leonardo DiCaprio actually attended the Met Gala with Vittoria Ceretti, his […]
  • OMG, he’s naked RETRO EDITION: Antoine Basler goes full-frontal in ‘Paris s’éveille’ (1991)
    If you’re a fan of vintage bush, check out Antoine Basler […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×