Gay Marriage
DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) enacted September 21, 1996, is a United States federal law that defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman. Like other controversial laws (i.e., Roe v Wade, ObamaCare), the debate continues over the definition of marriage in America. To add to the debate, the Obama Justice Department has taken the very unusual stance of saying it will no longer defend the constitutionality of a federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriage. After the SCOTUS decision on ObamaCare, the Obama Administration has asked the Supreme Court for a quick review of gay marriage law. Keep up with the ongoing debate below. On June 26, 2013, The Defense of Marriage Act, the law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by the states, is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-4 vote. The What you need to know about Marriage guide prepared by The Heritage Foundation answers the top 15 questions on the subject of marriage.
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Supreme Court Sides With Baker Over Wedding Cake for Same-Sex Couple

6/4/18
from The Wall Street Journal,
6/4/18:

Court rules for baker who refused to make a cake for a gay wedding, but sets no broad precedent.

The Supreme Court ducked a decision Monday on whether religious merchants can deny service to gay people, finding that a Christian baker didn’t get a fair hearing before a state civil-rights commission but issuing no broader precedent. The ruling, by a 7-to-2 vote, is a victory for Jack Phillips, who turned away Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins when they came to order a wedding cake from his Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo. The couple filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which found the baker in violation of state law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Still, the opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy went no further than saying the commissioners, based on comments in hearing transcripts, had failed to give “neutral and respectful consideration” to Mr. Phillips’s claim that his constitutional right to religious exercise entitled him to disregard the state civil-rights law.

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