Gay Marriage and Civil Unions

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996 explicitly defines in federal law that marriage is a union of one man and one woman, it does not prevent the states from defining marriage as they see fit. The federal government has no authority or need to involve itself in state decisions involving same-sex marriages or civil unions

However, DOMA has been under challenge in the federal courts.  The states’ retained sovereign authority in making their own determinations should not be infringed upon and must be defended.