Nos. 10-2204, 10-2207 and 10-2214
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALSFOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
Plaintiff-Appellee
,v.UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
et al.
,
Defendants-Appellants
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DEAN HARA,
Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant
,NANCY GILL
et al.
,
Plaintiffs-Appellees
,v.OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
et al.
,
Defendants-Appellants/Cross-Appellees
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On appeal from final orders of theUnited States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Civil Action Nos. 1:09-cv-11156, 1:09-cv-10309
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BRIEF OF MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES—INCLUDING OBJECTING MEMBERS OF THE BIPARTISAN LEGAL ADVISORY GROUP, REPRESENTATIVES NANCY PELOSI ANDSTENY H. HOYER—AS
AMICI CURIAE
IN SUPPORT OFPLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES AND URGING AFFIRMANCE*
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Heather C. Sawyer, Minority CounselCOMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY Ranking Members John Conyers, Jr.and Jerrold NadlerB-336 Rayburn BuildingWashington, DC 20515(202) 225-6906Miriam R. NemetzKathleen Connery DaweMichael B. KimberlyMAYER BROWN LLP1999 K Street NWWashington, DC 20006(202) 263-3000
Attorneys for
Amici
House Members*A complete list of
Amici
House Members appears on the reverse
The Members of the House of Representatives participating as
amici
include:
Nancy Pelosi, Steny H. Hoyer,
House Democratic Leader House Democratic Whip
James E. Clyburn Jerrold Nadler John Conyers, Jr.
House Assistant Ranking Member, Ranking Member, Democratic Leader Subcomm. on the Constitution Committee on the Judiciary
Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis, David N. Cicilline
LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chairs
Gary L. Ackerman Janice Hahn John W. OlverRobert E. Andrews Colleen W. Hanabusa illiam L. OwensKaren Bass Alcee L. Hastings Frank Pallone, Jr.Xavier Becerra Martin Heinrich Ed PastorShelley Berkley Brian Higgins Donald M. PayneHoward L. Berman James A. Himes Gary C. PetersTimothy H. Bishop Maurice D. Hinchey Chellie PingreeEarl Blumenauer Mazie K. Hirono David E. PriceRobert A. Brady Kathy Hochul Mike QuigleyBruce L. Braley Rush D. Holt Charles B. RangelLois Capps Michael M. Honda Laura RichardsonMichael E. Capuano Jay Inslee Steven R. Rothman André Carson Steve Israel Lucille Roybal-AllardJudy Chu Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. Bobby L. RushHansen Clarke Sheila Jackson Lee Tim Ryan Yvette D. Clarke Eddie Bernice Johnson Linda T. Sánchezm. Lacy Clay Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. Loretta SanchezEmanuel Cleaver illiam R. Keating John P. SarbanesSteve Cohen Dennis J. Kucinich Janice D. SchakowskyGerald E. Connolly John B. Larson Adam B. Schiff Joe Courtney Barbara Lee Robert C. “Bobby” ScottJoseph Crowley Sander M. Levin José E. SerranoDanny K. Davis John Lewis Brad ShermanSusan A. Davis Zoe Lofgren Louise McIntosh SlaughterDiana DeGette Nita M. Lowey Adam SmithRosa L. DeLauro Carolyn B. Maloney Jackie SpeierTheodore E. Deutch Edward J. Markey Fortney Pete StarkLloyd Doggett Doris O. Matsui Mike ThompsonMichael F. Doyle Carolyn McCarthy John F. TierneyDonna F. Edwards Betty McCollum Paul TonkoKeith Ellison Jim McDermott Edolphus TownsEliot L. Engel James P. McGovern Niki Tsongas Anna G. Eshoo Jerry McNerney Chris Van HollenSam Farr Gregory W. Meeks Nydia M. VelázquezChaka Fattah Brad Miller Timothy J. WalzBob Filner George Miller Debbie Wasserman SchultzMarcia L. Fudge Gwen Moore Maxine WatersJohn Garamendi James P. Moran Henry A. WaxmanCharles A. Gonzalez Christopher S. Murphy Peter WelchRaúl M. Grijalva Grace F. Napolitano Lynn C. WoolseyLuis V. Gutierrez Richard E. Neal John A. YarmuthEleanor Holmes Norton
i
TABLE OF CONTENTSPage
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ...........................................................................iiINTEREST OF THE
AMICI CURIAE
............................................................1INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT.................................2 ARGUMENT.....................................................................................................5I. CONGRESS’S TREATMENT OF LESBIANS AND GAY MEN CONFIRMS THAT LAWS TARGETING THIS GROUPWARRANT HEIGHTENED JUDICIAL REVIEW................................5II. SECTION 3 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL..............................................12 A. Section 3 is not the rational result of impartiallawmaking and violates our constitutional commitmentto neutrality of the law where the rights of citizens areat stake........................................................................................14B. Section 3 undermines Congress’s legitimate interest inrespecting state marriages as a means of ensuring thestability and welfare of American families. ..............................171. “Responsible procreation and childrearing” doesnot justify discriminating against married gayand lesbian couples and their children............................172. Section 3 unjustifiably harms married gay andlesbian couples and their children, underminingCongress’s legitimate interest in respecting state-sanctioned marriages........................................................20C. DOMA undercuts Congress’s legitimate interest inrespecting state sovereignty.......................................................22D. Congress’s interest in conserving resources—an interestlikely undercut by DOMA—cannot come at the cost of equal protection...........................................................................24E. The reasons invented in response to litigation also donot justify Section 3....................................................................27CONCLUSION...............................................................................................29