Federal Court to hear DOMA challenge

I've told you about the Gill case, in which Massachusetts is challenging DOMA on the grounds of equal protection for its married gay citizens. The Obama DoJ has released a series of briefs ranging from rankly insulting to denying standing. (Yes, that's our fierce advocate's DoJ, not only defending DOMA but doing it with relish). Previous commentary here. From GLAD's press release:

Judge Tauro will hear GLAD’s motion for summary judgment as well as the federal government’s motion to dismiss. The hearing will address the issue of whether DOMA Section 3 is constitutional six years after the first same-sex couples in the country started marrying in Massachusetts, the result of GLAD’s groundbreaking marriage case, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.

As a result of DOMA, passed by Congress in 1996, plaintiffs in GLAD’s lawsuit have been denied survivor benefits on a deceased spouse’s pension; denied health insurance coverage for a spouse on a federal family plan; denied Social Security spousal, death, and widower benefits; and denied the ability to file federal income taxes jointly as married.

Fingers crossed.