BROOKLYN, NY –  Representative Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement about the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a decision that will extend benefits without discrimination to legally married same-sex couples under federal law.

The historic decision, in United States v. Windsor, held that the government cannot discriminate based on “animus” toward same-sex marriage. 

“As a New Yorker, I take great pride in knowing that the State of New York has added to its rich history not only the igniting of the LGBT movement with the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which has been the driving force behind the struggle for LGBT equal rights, but now with the courage of the conviction of Edith Windsor,” stated Representative Yvette D. Clarke. “A native of my home state, Windsor brought suit against the injustices of DOMA, and has helped secured a critical win for this community and families across our nation.

“Under our Constitution, every person has a right to the equal protection of the laws. Windsor has established that the promise of equal protection will become a reality for millions of Americans.”

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U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations; Ethics; and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents several neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which includes Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, Ocean Hill, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.