Legally Not the Same and What That Can Mean For You

Gay marriage has a heated but short history in the U.S. In 1993, a Hawaii case got national attention which started the widespread controversy on this issue. The judges found that the state's constitution required a compelling reason not to extend equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. In response, the ruling allowed Congress to push through the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which allows a state to ignore same-sex marriages performed outside its borders and prohibits federal recognition. Since the Hawaii case in 1993, states have struggled to find their own stance on the issue; in a few states this means legalized civil unions or domestic partnerships Civil unions between same-sex couples are not equal to a marriage between a man and woman.