Defense of Marriage Act is the short title of a federal law of the United States passed on September 21, 1996 as Public Law No. 104-199, 110 Stat. 2419. Its provisions are codified at 1 U.S.C. § 7 and 28 U.S.C. § 1738C. The law, also known as DOMA, has two effects:

  1. No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) needs to treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.
  2. The federal government defines marriage as a legal union exclusively between one man and one woman.

The bill was passed by Congress by a vote of 85-14 in the Senate and a vote of 342-67 in the House of Representatives, and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996.

At the time of passage, it was expected that Hawaii (and possibly other states) would soon legalize same-sex marriage, whether by legislation or judicial interpretation of either the state or federal constitution. Opponents of such recognition feared (and many proponents hoped) that the other states would then be required to recognize such marriages under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Fri Aug 20 00:53:20 2010

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Boston about a lawsuit filed Wednesday that says that the federal Defense of Marriage Act interferes with the right of Massachusetts to define marriage as it sees fit AP Photo Lisa Poole Enlarge Image

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passed and President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act which defined marriage for purposes of federal law as the legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife

From Yahoo Image Search: "Defense of Marriage Act"
Tue Jul 6 21:42:35 2010

Out of the Jungle: Defense of Marriage Act Challenge Argued May 6
outofthejungle.blogspot.com
Out of the Jungle: Defense of Marriage Act Challenge Argued May 6

Betsy McKenzie

Sat, 08 May 2010 22:03:00 GM

Further, there is a bill, HR 3567, "The Respect for Marriage Act" which ... "Amends the . Defense of Marriage Act. to repeal provisions allowing states, territories, possessions of the United States, or Indian tribes to give no effect. ...

Federal Court to Hear ' Defense of Marriage Act ' Challenge May 6 ...
towleroad.com
Federal Court to Hear ' Defense of Marriage Act ' Challenge May 6 ...

Andy Towle

hu, 08 Apr 2010 14:35:00 GM

Federal Court to Hear '. Defense of Marriage Act. ' Challenge May 6. Plaintiffs. Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) has announced that oral arguments in the lawsuit they brought in March 2009 (Gill v. ...

Obama Makes Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Marriage Benefits for ...
sunlituplands.org
Obama Makes Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Marriage Benefits for ...

Daniel J. Cassidy

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:33:40 GM

Furthermore, President Obama again vowed to work with congress to repeal the . Defense of Marriage Act. , which he called discriminatory and an interference with states' rights. The . Defense of Marriage Act. was passed in 1996 by a veto-proof ...

From Google Blog Search: "Defense of Marriage Act"
Tue Jul 6 21:42:35 2010

Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Challenges Obama Administration on DOMA - San Francisco Bay Times
news.google.com
Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Challenges Obama Administration on DOMA

San Francisco Bay Times

That case is not a direct assault on the Defense of Marriage Act , but I'm sure the opinions of two Ninth Circuit judges on behalf of marriage recognition ...

California Judge Challenges Obama Admin with DOMA Related 'Bombshell' Gather.com

Gay Rights: How a California Judge Is Challenging Obama TIME

Defying Judge's Order, White House Instructs Personnel Agency to Obstruct ... Towleroad (blog)



all 9 news articles »
Gay marriage losing support in New Jersey: poll - Reuters
news.google.com
Gay marriage losing support in New Jersey: poll

Reuters

But many gay activists complain that Obama has done little to back up his rhetoric on gay rights, including not repealing the Defense of Marriage Act , ...

New Jersey Unique Among States Regarding Same-Sex Marriage Legislation Examiner.com

The shame of Maine The Daily News of Newburyport



all 504 news articles »
On Principles, Pledges, and Purity - RedState (blog)
news.google.com
On Principles, Pledges, and Purity

RedState (blog)

(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act . (9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and ...



and more »

From Google News Search: "Defense of Marriage Act"
Tue Jul 6 21:42:35 2010

If Congress repeals the Defense of Marriage act, will states like Utah be forced to recognize legal same-sex?
Q. marriages that are legal in other states? Just curious.
Asked by Jayden's daddies - Wed Jul 29 21:59:34 2009 - - 8 Answers - 0 Comments

A. No--the DOMA law only applies to Federal matters, such as filing a joint income-tax return. Most likely all of this will be decided by the Supreme Court--it could happen in one of several ways. One way would be if someone from, say, Massachusetts, where gay marriage is legal, moves to a state like Utah, where it isn't. The Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution requires that every state recognize any contract entered into in any other state (i.e., you can't get out of paying for your car if you move to another state). In legal terms, marriage is a contract, and thus should be covered by the Full Faith and Credit Clause. (This is how things played out, I think, with interracial marriage, which was at one time legal in… [cont.]
Answered by Bill Bowser - Wed Jul 29 22:23:43 2009

Do you know that The Defense of Marriage Act was signed by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996?
Q. What do you expect from Hillary Clinton?
Asked by The world in my fingers. - Tue May 27 12:58:56 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Try to find a democratic candidate who will say out loud that they are for gay marriage. Even Hillary won't, and she plays for the other team.
Answered by thor_torkinson - Tue May 27 13:12:35 2008

LIBS: what lie do your tell yourselves to lessen the sting of Obama's support of the Defense of Marriage Act?
Q. just curious what the Democrat talking points are on this one... "Gay rights groups expressed dismay with the Obama administration Friday over its championing of the Defense of Marriage Act" Was it "THEM JEWS" Rev Wright talks about that made Obama do it? haha Lamplight, Outstanding, man. JONATHAN: Just for you: A quote from Obama at Saddleback church last August: "SEN. OBAMA: I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. (Applause.) Now, for me as a Christian, it's also a sacred union. You know, God's in the mix. (Applause.)"
Asked by Ellis Wyatt - Sat Jun 13 20:41:04 2009 - - 10 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The fact that last Friday Obama said that he would repeal DOMA legislatively. Did you read your own link? It's the job of the justice department to defend current law in court.
Answered by beast - Sat Jun 13 20:48:46 2009

From Yahoo Answer Search: "Defense of Marriage Act"
Tue Jul 6 21:42:35 2010

See also:

  • 1st Spot Marriage1st Spot Marriage
    1st-spot.net
    Resources on marriage, cultural forms, divorce, children, and the enrichment of marriage.
  • EngagementsEngagements
    groups.yahoo.com
    All engaged couples are welcome.
  • Alliance for MarriageAlliance for Marriage
    afmus.org
    Provides a forum to educate the public, the media and elected officials on the benefits of marriage for children, adults and society.
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Sun Aug 15 06:29:26 2010