by Amy Rebeiro

The New York Times published a brief article about the Defense of Marriage Act which was passed in 1996. The law says the States do not have to give equal privileges to same sex couples, even if they married in a state that marriage is legal. President Obama is asking for Congress to repeal this law.

How can one determine if a law is a violation of human rights? What does human rights mean, and is Prop 8 of California a violation of a person's basic human rights? Right now the State of California needs to answer this question in order for Proposition 8 to be overturned.