nation
Battle over Defense of Marriage Act
- Updated: April 4, 2012 - 7:10 PM
- 0
- comments
resize text 
- buy reprints
What's at stake: The 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, is being challenged. The law also prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.
State action: Since 1996, many states have instituted their own bans on gay marriage, while eight states have approved it: Connecticut, New York, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Washington and the District of Columbia.
Federal action: President Obama said last year that the Department of Justice would no longer defend the law. After that, House Speaker John Boehner convened the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to defend it.
What's next: The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to issue its ruling within the next few months. The losing side is expected to appeal the issue to the Supreme Court later this year.
NEWS SERVICES
- 0
- comments
- resize text
- buy reprints
ADVERTISEMENT
- Up to 60 injured after car drives into Va. parade
- Last-minute fortune seekers buy Powerball tickets
- Landing gear issue leads to plane's belly landing
- Official: Broken rail eyed in Conn. train crash
- Birth of anteater has Conn. zoo staff puzzled
- GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law
- NM mom: I followed instincts in chasing abductor
- Powerball jackpot closing in on another record
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2013 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters