Final answer:
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996 defined marriage as the union between one man and one woman, denying recognition to same-sex couples. It was a major legislative barrier to equality for LGBTQ+ individuals. Parts of DOMA were later found unconstitutional, contributing to the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S.
Explanation:
Defense of Marriage Act of 1996
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was a federal law enacted in 1996 in the United States. It defined marriage for federal purposes as the union between one man and one woman, effectively excluding same-sex couples from federal marriage benefits and recognition.
Specifically, the law included two main provisions:
- The federal government would not recognize marriages between same-sex couples.
- States were not required to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
This law was a significant setback for advocates of LGBTQ+ rights at the time it was passed. However, key portions of DOMA were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013, paving the way for greater recognition of same-sex marriages throughout the United States, ultimately leading to the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015.
Learn more about Defense of Marriage Act here:
https://brainly.com/question/13963112