The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, was a federal law that defined marriage as the union between one man and one woman. For example, the Defense of Marriage Act held that while same-sex couples could legally marry under state law, the federal government would not legally recognize their unions. The U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark decision when it […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2534 (2015) Case Summary of Obergefell v. Hodges: Petitioners, a number of same-sex couples, sued four states that denied marriage licenses to those couples because those states defined marriage as being a union between one man and one woman. Petitioners won in all of the federal district courts […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003) Case Summary of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health: Seven same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses in the State of Massachusetts. They sued the government, stating that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates Massachusetts law. The state Superior Court granted the government’s motion […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Hollingsworth v. Perry, United States Supreme Court, (2013) Case summary for Hollingsworth v. Perry: Following the legalization of same sex marriage in California, voters passed Proposition Eight which amended the definition of marriage back to between a man and woman. Same sex couples, who wanted to marry, challenged the legislation bringing suit against state […]
Read moreCivil union is a legally created relationship that is similar to marriage, though it provides protections and benefits only at the state level, as the federal government does not recognize such unions. The civil union was originally created by some states to afford a marriage-like institution for same-sex couples when marriage was not an alternative. Not all states recognize civil […]
Read moreSame-sex marriage is the legal union between two people of the same gender. Throughout history, same sex unions have taken place around the world, but laws recognizing such marriages did not start occurring until more modern times. As of 2015, only 17 countries around the globe have laws allowing same sex couples to become legally married. Support in some countries […]
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