WASHINGTON – Leaders of the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organizations today called on the House Republican leadership to stop funding the legal defense of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

DOMA forbids the federal government from recognizing the marriages of lawfully wedded same-sex couples, legally married in states that allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain marriage licenses.

The letter reads:

Emboldened by Election Day victories in Maine, Maryland and Washington state, marriage-equality supporters are pushing to legalize same-sex weddings in other states.

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign today released an analysis of donors to the four states with marriage equality on the ballot this year. The number of contributors who gave in support of marriage for gay and lesbian couples was thirteen times greater – about 133,000 compared to an estimated 10,500 - than those giving financial resources to oppose marriage equality.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Marriage equality is all but certain in the South American nation of Uruguay after the lower house of Congress late Tuesday voted 81-6 in favor of a bill that would grant the same rights to same-sex couples that are enjoyed by straight couples.

The bill goes to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved in January. President José Mujica says he will sign the bill into law.

"This is not a homosexual or gay marriage law. It is a measure to equalize the institution independent of the sex of the couple," said Julio Bango, one of the authors of the bill.