A
key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, a
federal district court judge in Connecticut ruled last week.
Judge
Vanessa L. Bryant said DOMA's definition of marriage, which bars
numerous federal benefits for married same-sex couples, is impermissible
under
the Constitution's Fifth Amendment right to equal protection. Her ruling
is expected to be appealed, though a number of other federal district
and appellate courts have reached a similar conclusion.
