Today, the federal Defense of Marriage was challenged before the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor. The issue being challenged is section three of DOMA, which defines marriage for the purposes of federal law as “only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” Opponents of DOMA argue that the law violates same0sex couples' Fifth Amendment right to equal protection under the law, however defenders of the law say it ensures the sovereignty of the states.

In the lead up to today's case, both the Obama Administration and the Attorney General announced they would no defend DOMA, so the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, known as BLAG, has taken up the defense. BLAG is made up of House Speaker John Boehner and several other Representatives, and they claim that the Defense of Marriage Act benefits our nation by saving money. And they argue that federal benefits given to opposite-sex couples encourage “reasonable procreation.”

There are three issues before the court in the case: whether DOMA violates the constitutional rights of same-sex couples, whether the President and the Attorney General refusing the law deprives the court of jurisdiction, and whether BLAG has the legal right to bring the appeal. DOMA denies same-sex couples multiple benefits they would otherwise receive under federal law, such as the right to file joint taxes, spousal healthcare from federal employers, and Social Security survival benefits.

In addition to being morally wrong, there's no question that DOMA treats LGBT families like second class citizens. It's time for everyone in our nation to have the right to marry the person who they love. Let's hope the Supreme Court overturns DOMA, and helps to make that possible.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

"The American Dream"

Free excerpt, read book for free at Truthout, buy the book!

Tuesday's Daily Stack

Hour One: SCOTUS: Prop 8 Preview
- Shane Farnan, Supreme Court Reporter - Talk Radio News Service

Article: "Supreme Court Hears Prop 8 Arguments" by Shane Farnan.

Case: "Roe v. Wade", 1973.

Case: "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission" (2010).

Article: "SCOTUS: Prop. 8 Preview" by Shane Farnan.

Article: "SCOTUS: DOMA Preview" by Shane Farnan.

Article: "SCALIA: 'When Did It Become Unconstitutional To Exclude Homosexual Couples From Marriage?'" by Brett LoGiurato.

Case: "Dred Scott v. Sandford", 1857.

Article: "Constitution of the United States", article 3.

Article: "Video: The Oral Arguments in the Prop 8 Case".

Article: "Seats At Supreme Court Gay Marriage Hearing Selling For Thousands" by CBS/AP.

Article: "14th Amendment - Citizenship, Due Process Clause, Equal Protection.

Case: "Brown v. Board Of Education", 1954.

Thom vs. Peter...the top 10 harms of same sex marriage
- Peter Sprigg, Family Research Council / Author, FRC's brochure "The Top Ten Harms of Same Sex Marriage"

Article: "American Academy Of Pediatrics Supports Gay Couple Adoption" by Mike Pintek.

Case: "Loving v. Virginia", 1967.

Bible: "John 21:20" "Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?"

Bible: "Matthew 19:12" "For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others--and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

Bible: "Numbers 5:11-28"

Movie: "Olympus Has Fallen".

Movie: "Django Unchained".

Article: "North Korea threat: North Korea ups the ante in war of words, threatens to attack US bases" by CNN.

Movie: "The Hunger Games".

Clip: "The Firesign Theatre- "Beat The Reaper"".

Site: "Firesign Theatre".

Article: "Tennessee’s GOP Governor Puts Off Expanding Medicaid, Leaves Residents To ‘Health Care Lottery’" by Tara Culp-Ressler.

Article: "Iraq War Ten Years Later" by Matt Bors.

Event: April 2, 2013: Chicago: "Scrap the Cap Rally ".

Book: "Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War" by Michael Isikoff and David Corn.

Article: "Why Promoting LGBT Equality Is Good For Our Health" by Tara Culp-Ressler.

Case: "Plessy v. Ferguson", 1896.

Case: "Brown v. Board Of Education", 1954.

Article: "Virginia governor approves photo ID requirement for voters" by Reuters.

Article: "Revealed: Pentagon's link to Iraqi torture centres" by Mona Mahmood, Maggie O'Kane, Chavala Madlena and Teresa Smith.

Article: "Howard Dean Launches Campaign To Flip State Legislatures" by John Celock.

The good: Senator Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Senators: "Senate on record opposing use of chained CPI" by Erik Wasson.

The bad: Albany, New York Police Department: "Albany police: SWAT used poor black neighborhood for training because it’s ‘realistic’" by David Edwards.

The very, very ugly: George Zimmerman's Brother, Robert Zimmerman Jr., Stirs Firestorm With Racially Charged Comparison: "".

Site: Free Don Siegelman.

Article: "Judge sides with Wyoming in fracking chemical suit" by Mead Gruver.

Article: "Arkansas governor vetoes voter ID bill" by Suzi Parker.

Article: "Customers Flee Wal-Mart Empty Shelves for Target, Costco" by Renee Dudley.

Article: "Michele Bachmann faces congressional ethics probe" by Rachel Weiner.

Article: "The IRS Is Getting Blasted For Making An Awful, $60,000 'Star Trek' Parody Video" by Brett LoGiurato.

Hour One: Is DOMA moral disapproval or Federal uniformity?
- Shane Farnan, Supreme Court Reporter - Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Marc Pocan has unique perspective on DOMA
- Rep. Marc Pocan (D-WI, 2nd District)

Hour Two: Wikileaks-we're headed for an even bigger showdown over secrets
- Matt Taibbi, Contributing Editor-Rolling Stone Magazine / Author of 5 books, most recently "Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America"

And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...

The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...

We'll have the latest on DOMA, the sequester, the debt ceiling deal and what the GOP doesn't want you to know...I'll have a conversation with Attorney Mike Papantonio, host of Ring of Fire Radio...

Plus, my favorite segment of the week...Geeky Science!

And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...

The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...