Updated just minutes after the inauguration, the new Obama White House website declares “We need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA).
Many people are confused about how the DOMA affects marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
This group seeks to provide a forum for clarifying discussion.
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What is the DOMA?
1. DOMA protects the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions [states].
2. DOMA defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman for all purposes of federal law.
If the DOMA is repealed, it is not only possible, but likely that same-gender "marriages" from a state like Massachusetts would have to be recognized in other states.
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The same-gender "marriage" issue is extremely sensitive, but as citizens we need to be careful about how we organize our society.
Government grants marriages federal incentives because marriage between a man and a woman establishes the most stable and fundamental unit of society. A unit which is capable of producing children. This contribution to society is invaluable, and frankly, deserves special recognition.
So while citizens can enter into all kinds of different contracts, there is no clear justification for granting federal benefits to contracts which do not and cannot contribute in the same way as marriage.
Not to say that civil unions/domestic partnerships do not warrant any benefits, but as citizens we are allowed to discuss, debate, and grant benefits which are appropriate to the contracts' contribution.
The DOMA does not have to be entirely repealed in order to grant the appropriate benefits.
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(read less)Updated just minutes after the inauguration, the new Obama White House website declares “We need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA).
Many people are confused about how the DOMA affects marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
This group seeks to provide a forum for clarifying discussion.
------------------------------------
What is the DOMA?
1. DOMA protects the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions [states].
2. DOMA defines...
(read more)
Join