Which case struck down a provision of the Defense of Marriage Act and recognized federal recognition of same-sex marriages?

Which case struck down a provision of the Defense of Marriage Act and recognized federal recognition of same-sex marriages?

• A. Loving v. Virginia
• B. Obergefell v. Hodges
• C. Windsor v. United States
• D. Lawrence v. Texas

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how federal recognition of marriages is treated when a state licenses a same-sex marriage. Windsor v. United States targeted the Defense of Marriage Act, specifically the provision that defined marriage for federal purposes as a union between one man and one woman. The Court held that this federal definition violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment because it denied federal benefits to same-sex couples who were legally married under their state law. In other words, if a state recognizes a same-sex marriage, the federal government must recognize that marriage for federal programs and benefits. This was a pivotal step toward equality and set the stage for broader recognition later, such as Obergefell v. Hodges, which extended marriage equality nationwide. The decision is distinct from Loving v. Virginia (interracial marriage), Lawrence v. Texas (sodomy laws), and Obergefell (nationally legalizes same-sex marriage), placing Windsor as the case that struck down the federal restriction in DOMA and acknowledged federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

The main idea is how federal recognition of marriages is treated when a state licenses a same-sex marriage. Windsor v. United States targeted the Defense of Marriage Act, specifically the provision that defined marriage for federal purposes as a union between one man and one woman. The Court held that this federal definition violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment because it denied federal benefits to same-sex couples who were legally married under their state law. In other words, if a state recognizes a same-sex marriage, the federal government must recognize that marriage for federal programs and benefits. This was a pivotal step toward equality and set the stage for broader recognition later, such as Obergefell v. Hodges, which extended marriage equality nationwide. The decision is distinct from Loving v. Virginia (interracial marriage), Lawrence v. Texas (sodomy laws), and Obergefell (nationally legalizes same-sex marriage), placing Windsor as the case that struck down the federal restriction in DOMA and acknowledged federal recognition of same-sex marriages.