Which case held that the Defense of Marriage Act deprived same-sex couples married under state law of federal equal protection?

Which case held that the Defense of Marriage Act deprived same-sex couples married under state law of federal equal protection?

• A. United States v. Windsor
• B. Obergefell v. Hodges
• C. Romer v. Evans
• D. Baker v. Nelson

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how federal law must treat marriages that states recognize. United States v. Windsor held that this federal definition of marriage, as between one man and one woman for all federal purposes, is unconstitutional when it excludes same-sex couples who are lawfully married in their state. By denying these couples federal recognition and benefits, the law imposed a different status on them compared to heterosexual couples, even though their marriages were valid under state law. The Court reasoned that this unequal treatment violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection as applied to the federal government. Obergefell v. Hodges later extended the principle by holding that states must license and recognize same-sex marriages nationwide, but the Windsor decision specifically addressed DOMA’s federal definition, not the statewide legality of marriage itself. Romer v. Evans involved opposition to state amendments discriminating against gays, not federal recognition of state marriages, and Baker v. Nelson was an early dismissal that preceded Windsor.

The main idea is how federal law must treat marriages that states recognize. United States v. Windsor held that this federal definition of marriage, as between one man and one woman for all federal purposes, is unconstitutional when it excludes same-sex couples who are lawfully married in their state. By denying these couples federal recognition and benefits, the law imposed a different status on them compared to heterosexual couples, even though their marriages were valid under state law. The Court reasoned that this unequal treatment violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection as applied to the federal government.

Obergefell v. Hodges later extended the principle by holding that states must license and recognize same-sex marriages nationwide, but the Windsor decision specifically addressed DOMA’s federal definition, not the statewide legality of marriage itself. Romer v. Evans involved opposition to state amendments discriminating against gays, not federal recognition of state marriages, and Baker v. Nelson was an early dismissal that preceded Windsor.