Local Gay Leader Hails 'Landmark' DOMA Decision

This article was written by Greg Sleter.

“It’s nothing short of miraculous.”

Those were the words of David Kilmnick, chief executive officer of the Long Island Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Services Network on Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

“This law was just so clearly discriminatory and clearly so unconstitutional that I could not see any other way the court would rule,” Kilmnick told Patch. “But this doesn’t mean our fight is over. There are still (same-sex couples) in 37 states that can’t get married.”

In 1996 DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The legislation prevented same-sex couples whose marriages were recognized by their home state from receiving benefits available to other married couples under federal law, according to the Huffington Post.

Under the Obama administration, the Justice Department at first defended DOMA. In 2011, Justice reversed its position finding that that law was unconstitutional and declined to further defend it.

So what has changed in the 17 years since DOMA became law?

“More and more people came out and more people have family members and co-workers who are gay,” he said. “This issue is truly about marriage equality and love. Love does not discriminate and that is really what has changed people’s minds.”

On a personal level, Kilmnick took great pleasure in the decision.

“For me it means the marriage I have in New York now means something across the entire nation,” he said. “That means a lot to me and my husband.”

In 2012, Kilmnick and his long-time companion, Robert Vitelli, were married; a year after New York State approved a law allowing same-sex couples to wed.

“We now have access to the 1,100 federal rights and benefits that other married couples have,” he added. “This is a landmark decision.”