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Defense Of Marriage Act Struck Down

2013

In United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court rejects a section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between “one man and one woman as husband and wife.” Section 3 said that the federal government did not recognize same-sex marriage for purposes such as insurance benefits, taxes, immigration rules, and Social Security survivor’s benefits. The ruling gives spouses in same-sex marriages legal standing but does not legalize same-sex marriage. However, the legal precedent will be used by judges to overturn state bans.