In what seems like a reverse in President Barrack Obama's White House, the President is no longer defending the law of marriage. The Defense of Marriage Act was a federal law that mandated that a marriage could only exist between a woman and a man. The White House and Obama have decided that the law was unconstitutional and therefore the President has notified Congress that he will no longer uphold the law.
Most of us knew this time was coming. His campaign led many of us to believe that though he held marriage in high regard, Obama felt that many same-sex couples were being discriminated. The White House seems to believe that the Defense of Marriage Act had left many same-sex couples who had married but their status was not recognized by the federal government, hanging in the wind. Considering the recent repeal of the military's "Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy, is it any wonder that the White House would take this step?
What does this mean if the White House and Obama have decided not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act? Unless Congress or a federal court repeals the Act, it remains in effect as is. Also, the government will no longer defend the law in two states, New York and Connecticut where the law has been challenged.
For those backers of same-sex marriage, this is another step towards legal acceptance on a federal basis. However, with a majority of conservatives in Congress as well as a highly influential group of "Tea Partier's," the road to complete acceptance is a long and uphill battle.
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