The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, is the commonly-used name of a federal law of the United States that is officially known as Pub. L. No. 104-199, 110 Stat. 2419 and codified at 1 U.S.C. § 7 and 28 U.S.C. § 1738 C. This law has two effects: (1) That no state needs to recognize a marriage between persons of the same sex, even if the marriage was concluded or recognized in another state. (2) That the Federal Government may not recognize same sex or polygamous marriages for any purpose, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.

This bill was passed by the U.S. Congress by a vote of 342-67 in the U.S. House of Representatives and a vote of 85-14 in the U.S. Senate, and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001) on September 21, 1996.

Marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman in 40 states. When put to a popular vote: 31 of 31 states have defeated legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriage. Only seven states and the nations capitol of Washington, D.C. have legalized same sex marriage: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington. Five other states allow civil unions: Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Two states recognize, but do not perform same sex marriages: Hawaii and Maryland.

The political battle on this important issue continues:  On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, President Barack Obama used his bully pulpit to declare that homosexuality is immutable (an immutable object is an object whose state cannot be modified after it is created) and that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) signed into law on September 21, 1996 by President Bill Clinton is unconstitutional. The ACLA opposes President Obama and his administrations position on DOMA and homosexuality. 

Each photo represents Marriage bills and resolutions that are currently pending before the 112th U.S. Congress. When you click on each photo, you will be directly linked to the Thomas on the Internet that will allow you to do the research on each pending bill including the text, sponsors, cosponsors, related bills, summary, and all Congressional actions to date. After you have done your research, visit the ACLA's Lobbying Fees & Campaigns page to find out how you can to retain Church Lobbyist Darrin Mitchell to help you contact your states elected officials in the U.S. House and/or U.S. Senate to actively participate in the legislative process and become apart of a national movement to settle the issue of defining marriage in the United States as between one man and one woman.

Concurrent Resolutions To Defend DOMA Support (H.CON.RES.25 & S.CON.RES.11). Why? Because these concurrent resolutions in both the U.S House and U.S Senate condemn the Obama administration's direction that the Department of Justice (DOJ) should discontinue defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and demands that the DOJ continue to defend DOMA in all instances. Directing The Speaker Of The House To Defend DOMA Support (H.RES.143). Why? Because this House Resolution directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee, to take any and all actions necessary to assert the standing of the House to defend the Defense of Marriage Act and the amendments made by that Act in any litigation in any federal court of the United States. Employment Non-Discrimination Act Oppose (H.R.1397, S.811). Why? Because these bills better known as EDNA would become would be the first ever federal law to protect and promote workplace equality for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals) by enacting civil rights protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in most workplaces. Marriage Protection Act of 2011 Support (H.R.875). Why? Because this bill would amend title 28, United States Code, to limit Federal court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act by allowing no court created by an act of Congress to have any jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court would have no appellate jurisdiction, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of, or the validity of DOMA under the Constitution. Marriage Protection Amendment Support (H.J.RES.45). Why? Because this House Joint Resolution would define marriage in the United States as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman. Prohibits either the U.S. Constitution or the constitution of any state from being construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon any other union. Military Spouses Employment Act Support (H.R.687). Why? Because this bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to include spouses of members of the Armed Forces on extended active duty (more than 90 days or for an indefinite period) as members of a targeted group for purposes of the work opportunity tax credit (thus giving employers a tax incentive for hiring military spouses). Parental Title Protection Act of 2011 Support (H.R.635). Why? Because this bill would require federal agencies, contractors, or government-sponsored enterprises to use the words "mother" and "father" when describing parents, and not the words "parent 1" or "parent 2" (or similar words), in all official documents issued by such entities. Respect for Marriage Act Oppose (H.R.1116 & S.598). Why? Because these bills would amend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to repeal a provision that prohibited a state, territory, possession, or Indian tribe from being required to recognize any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other state, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a same sex marriage. Restore Military Readiness Act of 2011 Support (H.R.337). Why? Because this bill will amend the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 to require, as an additional condition on the repeal of the current Department of Defense (DOD) policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, that the chief of each military department certify to the congressional defense committees that such repeal will not degrade the readiness, effectiveness, cohesion, and morale of combat arms units and personnel under their respective commands that are engaged in combat, deployed to a combat theater, or preparing for deployment to a combat theater. Tax Code Termination Act Support (H.R.462). Why? Because this bill would terminate the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 after December 31, 2015. This bill also declares that any new federal tax system should be a simple and fair system that: (1) applies a low rate to all Americans; (2) provides tax relief for working Americans; (3) protects the rights of taxpayers and reduces tax collection abuses; (4) eliminates the bias against savings and investment; (5) promotes economic growth and job creation; and (6) does not penalize marriage or families. Uniting American Families Act Oppose (H.R.1537, H.R.1796, S.821). Why? Because the wording of these bills would permit permanent partners of United States citizens 18 years and older and lawful permanent residents from other countries to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as married spouses of citizens. We The People Act Support (H.R.958). Why? Because this bill would forbid all federal courts from hearing cases on abortion, same-sex unions, sexual practices, and establishment of religion, unless such a case were a challenge to the Constitutionality of federal law. Makes federal court decisions on those subjects nonbinding as precedent in state courts, and forbids federal courts from spending money to enforce their judgments.