Defense of Marriage Act: Defense of Marriage Act, also abbreviated to (DOMA). This is a federal law designed to give states the right to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages approved by another state. The Defense of Marriage Act prevents the government from recognizing such marriages as legally valid. Thirty-three states ban same-sex marriage, and seventeen states allow same-sex marriage. Bill Clinton was the one who signed “The Defense of Marriage Act” into law in 1996. Some federal programs only apply to same-sex couples, post-DOMA. The definition of the word “marriage” means only a legal union between a man and a woman as husband and wife. The meaning of “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is husband and wife. In 1996, DOMA unfairly denied married same-sex couples. This type of discrimination directly impacts tens of thousands of legally married same-sex couples in the United States. DOMA defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for purposes of federal law. The Defense of Marriage Act has two main sections and they are divided into two. The first section, gives authority to the states, no state, or possession of the United States, should be obliged to give effect to any public act. The Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman for the purposes of the law. The second section provides a federal definition of marriage as an institution between a man and a woman, with the word “spouse” referring to a person of the opposite sex. What is the status of DOMA right now? The status of DOMA at this time is that the United States Supreme Court struck down section three of DOMA that prevented the federal government from recognizing the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. This case was brought by Edie Windsor, an 83-year-old New Yorker who was married to Thea Clara Spyer in 2007. After the latter's death in 2009, Windsor was denied exemption from federal estate taxes and a property tax bill of 363,000 was delivered. Under current law, heterosexual spouses can transfer their assets tax-free. The Defense of Marriage Act will give states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages. DOMA is defined as a union between a man and a woman who may be called husband and wife and refer to them as the opposite-sex spouse. Those people who have homosexual relationships are classified as second-class people. To get federal benefits from some programs you must be legally married. Some federal benefits have restrictions for same-sex couples.