Mr. Dave Toth

293 Virgo Drive

Groton, CT 06340

Dear Mr. Toth:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns about same-sex marriages.  It is good to hear from you.

Whether to enable same-sex couples in long-term, committed relationships to assume some or all of the legal obligations and benefits provided by marriage is an extraordinarily challenging and important issue.  I have long believed that marriage is a time-honored sacred institution, to be

shared by one man and one woman, which is why I supported the Defense of Marriage Act.  That legislation, signed into law by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, defines marriage for the purposes of federal laws as a union between a man and a woman and makes clear that no state should have to recognize same-sex marriages authorized in other states.

Although I do not support gay marriage, I believe that states have the right to adopt for themselves laws that allow same-sex unions, which is why I would not support a constitutional amendment precluding states from adopting all such arrangements.  Moreover, I believe that same-sex couples in long-term, committed relationships should have the option to assume some of the legal benefits and obligations conferred by civil marriage. This, in my view, is a reflection of the basic American ideals of fairness and equality, which demand that we take concrete steps to end discrimination against gay men and lesbians.  That is why I am a cosponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (S. 1252), introduced by Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN), which would extend job-related benefits such as health insurance, retirement benefits, and life insurance to domestic partners of federal employees.  I am also a long-time leading cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S.1705), sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), which would outlaw workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.  I also believe that we must evaluate the numerous benefits, rights, and privileges afforded to married couples

under federal law in order to determine whether to extend them to same-sex couples in long-term, committed relationships.

My official Senate web site is designed to be an on-line office that provides access to constituent services, Connecticut-specific information, and an abundance of information about what I am working on in the Senate on behalf of Connecticut and the nation.  The web site is located at http://lieberman.senate.gov.  I hope this service is informative and useful.

Thank you again for letting me know your views and concerns.  Please

contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.

                                      Sincerely,

                                      Joe Lieberman