Bob Kerrey: “the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA] is proposed and sold as a simple measure, limited in scope, and based on common…”

“the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA] is proposed and sold as a simple measure, limited in scope, and based on common sense. It is none of these things. DOMA certainly cannot be called a simple measure when it proposes to have the Federal Government intervene in matters previously reserved to the States. Conservative advocates of States rights should not brush aside this interference merely because they find a purpose which holds special appeal to them. And with this law the Federal Government will have taken the first--and if history is a good guide, probably not the last--step into the States' business of marriage and family law. DOMA certainly cannot be called limited in scope except for those of us who will be unaffected by this abridgement of rights. The small class of citizens affected do not believe this law is limited in scope. Of course the fact that only a relatively few homosexual couples will be affected begs the question: Why should we heterosexuals worry? We have more important business to tend to. Why should we put ourselves at risk for a small minority of men and women who are willing to make a lifetime commitment to another human being but, whose love of someone of the same sex violates others' personal beliefs? Two reasons. First, these couples are not hurting us with their actions; in fact they may be helping us by showing us that love can conquer hatred. Second, we may be next.…”