VA won’t defend anti-gay marriage laws in suit by Navy vet
The secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs said May 9 the VA would not defend the constitutionality of two federal laws that define marriage as between a man and a woman, according to James Dao in his “At War: Notes from the Front Lines” blog on nytimes.com.
Eric K. Shinseki made the announcement after President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that he personally supported same-sex marriage.
The VA issued its declaration in the case of Carmen Cardona of Norwich, Conn., a disabled lesbian who is a former U.S. Navy sailor. She is challenging the VA’s denial of spousal benefits. y, it had been unclear whether the V.A. would continue to defend the law.
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