Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), enacted in 1996, was a U.S. federal law that defined marriage for federal purposes as the union between one man and one woman. It also allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted in other states. This law meant that, federally, same-sex marriages were not recognized, affecting benefits like Social Security, taxes, and immigration. However, in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court declared key parts of DOMA unconstitutional, leading to the recognition of same-sex marriages across states and extending federal benefits to married same-sex couples.