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Simple English definitions for legal terms

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

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A quick definition of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was a law that said marriage was only between a man and a woman. This meant that same-sex couples couldn't get the same benefits as opposite-sex couples, like access to employment benefits, inheritance rights, and joint tax returns. DOMA also said that states didn't have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. However, the Supreme Court ruled that DOMA was unconstitutional in 2013 and 2015, which allowed same-sex couples to get married and have the same rights as opposite-sex couples.

A more thorough explanation:

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was a federal law passed by the 104th United States Congress intended to define and protect the institution of marriage. DOMA specifically defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman, which allowed individual states to not recognize same-sex marriages that were performed and recognized under other states’ laws.

For example, if a same-sex couple got married in a state where it was legal, but then moved to a state where it was not legal, that state did not have to recognize their marriage. This meant that same-sex couples were denied many benefits and recognition that opposite-sex couples enjoyed, such as access to a spouse’s employment benefits, the recognition of the marriage itself, the rights of inheritance, joint tax returns and exemptions, and the right to cohabit together in a college or military housing.

DOMA also stated that "the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife” and further states that “[i]n determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”

One of the major provisions of this law was that a non-biological parent could not have a legal relationship with a child of the biological parent in a same-sex couple. Moreover, same-sex couples could not take medical leave to care for their partners or non-biological children. They also could not adopt children and during divorce proceedings, they could not petition the court for custody, visitation rights, or child support.

The supporters of DOMA believed that opposite-sex marriage was the only appropriate method for family formation and procreation. One of the major arguments from proponents of DOMA was that same-sex marriage could lead to alternative family formations and could even result in incestuous relationships and polygamous marriage. On the other hand, the opponents of DOMA claimed that DOMA’s definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman and other arguments were discriminatory on the basis of sex, and equated homosexuality with incest and polygamy.

In 2013 in United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down DOMA’s definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman. Furthermore, in 2015 in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court struck down the section of DOMA that allowed individual states to not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. This result granted same-sex couples the constitutional right to marry.

It is important to note that in 2022, the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson opened up the possibility for the Court to reexamine its ruling in Obergefell in the future.

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MIAMI A
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:55
How does one know if they are UR1 or UR2?
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:56
CONGRATS MACAQUE!
TY
got a random stanford email and almost had a heart attack
ALSO CONGRATS!
Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
Dkk
2:21
NDLS and Fordham took a very long time last year. It's good info for people to know.
[] baddestbunny
4:29
let’s get after it boys and girls
Dkk
5:21
I gtg to bed soon.
Dkk
5:22
Big day today. Gunna be a crazy one. I will sleep through the first half.
good morning lsd it is 5 am EST
also jazzy my ndls address went long ages ago i sadly do not think it means anything
my stanford address also went long LOL i think at most it's an indicator it's under review
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