President Obama has called on Congress to repeal the1996 Defense of Marriage Act. The law was signed by President Bill Clinton and denies married same-sex couples the federal benefits granted to other married couples which included Social Security survivor payments and the right to file joint tax returns.  Justification for the marriage act was to “encourage responsible procreation.”   However, last month, two rulings by Judge Joseph Tauro, a federal trial judge in Massachusetts, were appealed, who found that the law’s denial of benefits to married same-sex couples was unconstitutional.  He explained that the marriage act exceeded Congress’s powers and infringed on the state’s right to regulate marriage.  Two new lawsuits have also come about, one filed in Connecticut and one filed in New York, both challenging the Defense of Marriage Act.  Read More.

Currently, discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not itself is not yet protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but this law does makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. Additionally, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does not enforce the protections that prohibit discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation.  Please visit the EEOC’s website for more information.

The lawyers at Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC, located in Nassau County, New York, have fought against all forms of discrimination for over two decades with much success. If you have been a victim of discrimination because of your age, gender, race, or sexual orientation, contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-800-585-4658.