DOMA and State Legislation
A majority of the states, including some that have benefits for same-sex relationships, have restricted recognition of marriage to unions of one man and one woman either by statute law or an amendment to their state constitution. Most do not recognize same-sex unions from other jurisdictions, including other jurisdictions of the United States. States that permit same-sex marriages recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. Massachusetts recognizes civil unions established elsewhere as the legal equivalent of marriage. Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and the District of Columbia allow marriages between persons of the same sex. Same-sex marriages become legal in Washington on December 6, 2012. Maryland is scheduled to begin issuing licenses for same-sex marriages on January 2, 2013. Maine is scheduled to begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples in December 2012 or January 2013.
California, which sanctioned same-sex marriages for several months in 2008 and has a ban (Proposition 8) on same-sex marriage that is the subject of litigation, recognizes same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions as equivalent to marriages in all but name. New Mexico, Maryland, and New York recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. Other states that recognize same-sex marriages as civil unions or domestic partnerships include Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
Read more about this topic: Defense Of Marriage Act
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