Amazing man: Eric Holder

More federal rights coming for same-sex marriages! The new Department of Justice memo instructs federal government lawyers to give same-sex marriages “full and equal recognition, to the greatest extent possible under the law”.   Attorney General Eric Holder will be speaking at a HRC event Saturday and some of the quotes below are from his upcoming speech.

-Some of the effects of the memo include allowing a same-sex spouse to refuse to provide testimony in a civil or criminal case that might violate their marital privileges.  A right that straight-couples currently have.

-Same-sex couples can for bankruptcy together

– Same-sex spouses can visit their federal inmate spouses

-Same-sex couples will be recognized equally in programs like: the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, the September 11’th Victim Compensation Fund and the Public Safety Officer’s Benefits Program.

-The Public Safety Benefits program means that gay law enforcement officers and firefighters will have the same rights as their straight counterparts.

Holder also said, “This program is one way that we, as a country, stand by the families of those who put themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe, and we must never do that selectively,”.  “When any law enforcement officer falls in the line of duty or is gravely injured, the federal government should stand by that hero’s spouse – no matter whether that spouse is straight or gay.”. 

Good for you Mr. Attorney General.  I would love for him to run for President some day.  This man is everything a politician should be and an amazing role model for all.