Evan Wolfson, long time marriage equality advocate and founder and executive director of Freedom to Marry joined with Jon Cowan, president of the moderate think tank Third Way to draw attention to a “quiet revolution” within the ranks of the Republican Party.  Writing for the Los Angeles Times, they pointed out the GOP’s relative silence on the issue of same-sex marriage in 2010, and the growing list of conservative leaders, from former solicitor general and hero of Perry v. Schwarzenegger Ted Olson to the extensive guest list at former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman’s fundraiser coming out in support of marriage equality.

What’s driving this insiders’ insurrection? Perhaps a sense that a libertarian-leaning belief in fully extending the freedom to marry to all Americans does not, in fact, clash with a conservative commitment to holding together the social fabric, as marriage entails personal responsibility and social stability. Or perhaps these GOP leaders are beginning to see an alignment of their rhetoric about individual liberty with public opinion; in the last month, two national polls, by CNN and the Associated Press, showed that a majority of Americans nationwide now support marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

The implications of such a historic shift in the GOP establishment’s stance on marriage should not be underestimated. For Republicans, it means they could become less moored to their socially conservative base and may get back in touch with the cautious but forward-looking American political center that is vital to GOP hopes of cobbling together a governing majority. For the country, it is evidence that we are inching ever closer to a national consensus that gay and lesbian couples should have the freedom to marry under the law.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Back in July we celebrated a victory for marriage equality in federal court – not the Prop. 8 case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, but a successful challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  Judge Tauro struck down Section III of DOMA as unconstitutional because by mandating that the federal government ignore legally recognized marriages in states like Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, etc. it interferes with a state’s right to define marriage.  Under the ruling, the plaintiffs are entitled to the same federal spousal benefits and protections as every other married couple.

Yesterday, the Obama administration’s Department of Justice filed notice of its intent to appeal Gill v. Office of Personnel Management.

“We fully expected an appeal and are more than ready to meet it head on,” said Mary L. Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director for Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, which brought the case.  “DOMA brings harm to families like our plaintiffs every day, denying married couples and their children basic protections like health insurance, pensions, and Social Security benefits.  We are confident in the strength of our case.”

Visit GLAD’s website to find out more about this case and recent developments.