Washington, D.C – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today called on federal officials to take action against state and local officials denying same-sex couples their constitutionally protected rights. Rep. Pocan along with 56 of his Congressional colleagues sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging the Department to take any actions necessary to ensure same-sex couples are afforded immediate and complete access to the rights and responsibilities bestowed by the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.

“The state and local officials standing in the way of marriage equality for all are standing on the wrong side of history,” said Rep. Mark Pocan. “The Supreme Court’s ruling was clear: marriage equality is a right enshrined in the Constitution. Denying same-sex couples their constitutionally protected rights is backwards and has no place in our democracy. This contempt for people who want nothing more than to be happy with their loved ones is an affront to our Constitution.”

The letter, signed by 57 members of Congress, calls on federal officials to take any and all appropriate steps to ensure all couples have immediate and complete access to the fundamental right to marry.  An electronic copy of the letter can be found here.