Gay Couples Blast Defense of Marriage Act

Seven gay married couples are suing the government over a federal law that doesn’t recognize same-sex unions. They say that there is “no legitimate or plausible” reason for having a federal definition of marriage that does not recognize gay couples. The couples were married in Massachusetts after it became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004.

In court documents that were filed Tuesday, the couples argue that the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, violates the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution. They argue that it denies them access to federal benefits that are given to other married couples, including pensions, health insurance, and the ability to file joint tax returns. They also argue that the law “eviscerates the historic power of the states to establish criteria for marriage.”

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