Senator Says Defense of Marriage Act on 'Wrong Side of History,' Joins LGBT Video

July 1st, 2011 10:26 PM

Thirteen U.S. senators who oppose the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) participated in a video for the pro-homosexual “It Gets Better” project, in which they encourage lesbian and gay youth to persevere and be optimistic about the future. In discussing the release of the video on Wednesday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said, “DOMA, folks, is on the wrong side of history.”

The participation of the 13 senators, all Democrats, in the "It Gets Better" video project was spearheaded by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who won Joe Biden's seat after the latter became vice president.

In explaining his participation in the project, Coons said in a statement that, "'It Gets Better' is more than a message. It's a movement. It Gets Better is telling a whole generation of LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] youth that they are not wrong just for being who they are and that they should not give up."

The video is entitled “A Message of Hope from the United States Senate.” In the video, the senators encourage LGBT youth to persevere.

As a member of the United States Senate, I'm here to tell you, `it gets better,'" says Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.).

"Whether you're gay, whether you're straight, whether you're not sure," says Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D -N.Y.).

"I know it's not easy," says Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.).  "It's not okay for your peers, adults, or for anyone to make you feel like you're doing something wrong be being yourself."

"Don't let them win," says Sen. Coons (D-Del.), and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says, "Don't let the bad guys get you down."

"Every loving couple should have the right and privilege to be married, to be able to celebrate that love, to celebrate that commitment with all of their friends and loved ones around," says Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)

"It's up to all of us to speak out against hate and intolerance wherever we see it," says Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
“It’s up to every American who believes that equality for all means an equality that’s indifferent to sexual orientation,” says Coons.

“Please, don’t give up,” says Feinstein.

“Our country is changing,” says Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

Read more at CNSNews.com.