DOMA Struck Down by Supreme Court, Gay Couples Now Eligible for Federal Benefits

Last Updated: 31 Mar 2023

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Last week was a huge week for our supreme court. There were a couple really important rulings. There was the University of Texas Vs. Fisher, which argued race when accepting students into their school. There was also a voting rights act ruling as well. The one that stuck out most to me was the court’s decision on DOMA. DOMA stands for “defense of marriage act. ” It was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 to prevent same-sex couples whose marriages were recognized by their home state from receiving benefits available to other married couples under federal law.

DOMA caused the federal government to not recognize gay marriages. This meant gay and lesbian partners of federal employees did not receive federal health insurance, social security or any of the other benefits given to the spouses of heterosexual employees. DOMA was voted unconstitutional last week by a 5-4 vote. If you are married legally in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage you can now receive federal benefits. President Barack Obama released a statement celebrating the decision. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it," (DOMA Unconstitutional) I think that this ruling will affect our country in the future. I personally agree with this ruling and think that couples in same sex marriages should have the same benefits as couples that are not. This ruling is only in effect for states that have same sex marriages.

I think that soon however more states will allow gay marriages than before. I believe that it is a small stepping stone in the gay rights movement and our country is definitely on its way to making even more changes. I believe that everyone should be treated equally no matter who they love. Same sex couples (In legal states of course) are now eligible for many of the health, pension, and other spousal benefits that used to be only guaranteed to the spouses of heterosexual federal workers.

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