Gov. Brown urges passage of Respect for Marriage Act, which would overturn Defense of Marriage Act

Gov. Jerry Brown recently sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee urging the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act.

His letter was accompanied by a separate letter signed by three California mayors, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and a group of 12 other bipartisan mayors and governors in favor of repealing the 1996 statute that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

The bill is currently sponsored by Sen.