HRC: Speaker Boehner Triples Fund to Deny Protections to Gay and Lesbian Couples

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2011
 

Speaker Boehner Triples Fund to Deny Protections to Gay and Lesbian Couples

Tab jumps to at least $1.5 million in taxpayer money to defend discrimination

WASHINGTON – House Speaker John Boehner originally entered into a contract with private attorneys to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court with a cap of legal fees at $500,000.  A new contract that was revealed today increases that amount to $1.5 million.  Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement:

“There seems to be no limit to how much taxpayer money the House Republican leadership is willing to spend to keep this discriminatory law on the books.  At a time when budgeting is the watchword in Washington, Americans will be rightly aghast at this boondoggle for right-wing lawyers.  The Defense of Marriage Act singles out same-sex couples for unfair treatment and no amount of money can overcome the fact that it flies in the face of our cherished constitutional principles.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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