Al Franken Mocks Focus on the Family Testimony

According to same-sex marriage proponents, July 20, 2011 is a historic day for America, as the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act of 2011 (bill S. 598). Rather than respect marriage though, S. 598 would oblige the federal government to recognize any legal definition of marriage from states. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D - CA) sponsored the bill along with 27 co-sponsors. S. 598 would radically alter the legal understanding of marriage at the federal level by repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which passed with overwhelming support only 15 years ago. Under DOMA, the definition of marriage for federal law is a union between one man and one woman. The proposed bill would require the federal government to grant all benefits of marriage, financial and otherwise, to married gay couples. Further, it would require states where same-sex marriage is illegal to recognize same-sex unions from other states.