September 8, 2014

Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear arguments in Sevcik v. Sandoval, the federal case that could bring marriage equality to LGBT Nevadans. Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District and a member of the House Equality Caucus released the following statement:

“Today’s hearing marks another step forward on the path to marriage equality for thousands of Nevadans who simply want their home state to recognize their loving commitment, the same as it does for everyone else. I am confident that the court will side with equality and tolerance over bigotry. Even with last summer’s historic Supreme Court decision essentially striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, LGBT Nevadans continue to face discrimination at the federal level. Nevada’s refusal to recognize marriage equality prohibits legally-married veterans from receiving the benefits they have earned and deserve as well as LGBT retiree couples from accessing the Social Security benefits to which they have contributed. In the coming days a decision could be handed down by the court that recognizes the current injustice in Nevada’s Constitution and ensures that no Nevadan is discriminated against on the basis of whom they love.”   

In June 2013, Titus introduced H.R.2529, the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act to amend the definition of “spouse” in Title 38 of the U.S. Code thereby aligning the VA with the nation's laws and ensuring equal treatment for same-sex veteran spouses and their families.