Down with DOMA, Says (Straight) Atlanta Paralegal

Rymin works for Atlanta law firm Buckley & Klein, a firm that counsels clients alleging discrimination in the workplace. When she learned that Atlanta based law firm King & Spalding had agreed to represent the Congressional GOP in its efforts to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), she put fingers to keyboard and wrote an email to the managing partner of the firm's Atlanta office, Mason Stephenson.

Portions of her email are as follows, according to the April 20^th article, ''Atlantans jump in to scold King & Spalding for defending DOMA'':

''When I read yesterday that K&S has agreed to represent the Congressional GOP in its fight to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act, thereby seeking to continue to deny civil rights to a large portion of America's population, I was very dismayed. Actually I was so angry it took me a full day to be calm enough to write this email.''

''Your website would appear to be supportive of the rights of the GLBT community yet agreeing to represent the bigoted views of a group of representatives who have chosen to spend our taxpayer dollars when they claim to want to cut spending is appalling.''

''Their hypocrisy is over the top. Why would you want your firm to be associated with defending discrimination? Surely K&S is sufficiently profitable that it doesn't need the hourly work that badly. It's also quite a slap in the face to your GLBT employees.''

''I know I am only one voice and my opinion is my own - I'm not expressing my views for anyone except myself but working in a firm that seeks to help those who have been discriminated against makes it that much more important to speak out. I see the damage discrimination causes every day. I will speak against K&S taking this position to anyone who will listen to me and, with the help of the internet, I can reach a lot of people. I fervently hope that you lose.''

''I believe the real reason behind denying the GLBT community the financial and tax benefits that come with marriage boils down to money - it always does but regardless, these are civil rights being denied and that's wrong. Your participation in defending DOMA is wrong.''

''I have attached a photograph of a coworker who traveled to Connecticut to marry last year. Their commitment is as real as mine to my husband and doesn't threaten me in any way. Engaging in efforts to further allow bigotry and hatred to hide behind the cloak of the law is despicable.''

The photo was of Joel Tucker, also a Buckley & Klein litigation paralegal, and his husband Robert Todd, who were legally married in Connecticut last year.

Tucker was quoted as saying about Rymin's email: ''I thought it was awesome. She thought it was important to show a face of who [K&S] is discriminating against. This is about people and it is affecting Georgia people, too.'' He was also quoted as saying in regards to DOMA, and King & Spalding's defense of it: ''It's an affront to King & Spalding and to Atlanta, the birthplace of civil rights. It's shocking. To me, King & Spalding values discrimination at $500,000.''

Tucker was referring to House Speaker John Boehner's engagement of King & Spalding to defend DOMA to the tune of over $500,000.

In 1996, Congress adopted the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws, and provides that states need not recognize a marriage from another state if it is between persons of the same sex.

Obama announced earlier this year he would not expend resources to defend DOMA.

Established in 1885, King & Spalding has over 800 lawyers practicing around the globe. Clients include half of the Fortune 100, as well as hundreds of clients in mid-sized companies in emerging industries and new ventures.

Buckley & Klein, LLP is one of Atlanta, Georgia's oldest and largest law firms focused solely on representing employees in matters relating to labor and employment law.