The Minnesota Independent reports that Reps. Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum have cosponsored a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bans same-sex marriages from being recognized in other states.

The Respect Marriage Act is an important first-step towards guaranteeing equality for all Americans.  As Cleve Jones wrote in an email to our members of the Courage Campaign in California, equal rights isn’t just a "gay" issue, it’s about our shared human rights.

Like all other Americans, LGBT people are guaranteed equal protection, but are currently denied it by Congress. Repealing DOMA is just a first step. Free and equal people do not compromise. That’s why Equality Across America, the organization I founded, is marching on Washington October 11-12 with one simple demand: Equal protection for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. Now.

When Harvey spoke at Gay Freedom Day at San Francisco City Hall in 1978, he invoked the words of the Declaration of Independence: "All [people] are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words."

It’s time to remind our legislators that all Americans are created equal. Take a minute to write to your Congressional representatives and ask them to co-sponsor the bill to repeal DOMA.