BBC News, 23 February 2011
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The US government says it will no longer defend in the courts a law which bans the recognition of same sex marriage.
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| Gay marriage is legal in five states across the US, and the District of Columbia. |
US Attorney General Eric Holder said the administration would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (Doma).
Doma defines marriage as "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife".
Until now the US has defended the law in challenges to its constitutionality.
In a letter to the House speaker John Boehner, Mr Holder said that President Obama had concluded Doma is "unconstitutional".
Court challenge
It "violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment," the letter reads.
"While both the wisdom and the legality of Section 3 of DOMA will continue to be the subject of both extensive litigation and public debate, this administration will no longer assert its constitutionality in court," added the statement.
Places where gay marriage is legal in the United States
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Iowa
- Vermont
- Washington, DC
The change in position follows a review into the matter by the justice department, after the law was challenged in court by a number of same-sex couples.
Same-sex marriage is legal in five states across the US, plus the District of Columbia.
The Defense of Marriage Act, which became law in 1996, says that other states and the federal government do not have to recognise these unions.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Mr Obama believes Doma is "unnecessary and unfair", but is still "grappling" with his personal views on gay marriage.
A spokesman for Mr Boehner said Mr Obama should be focusing on other issues instead, such as the economy.
"The president will have to explain why he thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that sharply divides the nation."
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About the Challenges of Being a Gay Man – Oct 23, 2010 (Saint Germain channeled by Alexandra Mahlimay and Dan Bennack) - “You see, your Soul and Creator are not concerned with any perspective you have that contradicts the reality of your Divinity – whether this be your gender, your sexual preference, your nationality – or your race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or anything else.”
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