One important fight in this week's dizzying array of amendments to the bill is simply about extending current laws to gay people. "Guns, gays and immigration — it's too much," one senator reportedly told the White House. "I can be with you on one or two of them, but not all three." What about two in one bill? Does that have a better chance? Or a better chance to kill the whole thing?
Rhode Island became the tenth state in the nation to legalize gay marriage on Thursday evening, when Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the recently passed bill into law. The final vote wasn't even close.
Time's new covers are great, but that we need them, regardless of the progress that's been made, means gay marriage hasn't, in fact, quite "won" yet. It won't have won until marriage is legal for same-sex couples throughout the U.S., and recognized federally, too. It won't have won until "gay marriage" is no different than any marriage.
This week, the news cycles has been consumed by the Supreme Court's oral arguments on two closely-watched legal battles in recent history, but unlike virtually every other news story on the planet these days, there were no images or videos because cameras are not allowed in Supreme Court proceedings.
At this point, everybody's seen the pink equals sign on the red background show up in her Facebook or Twitter feed. Not everyone's convinced that it's useful, though.
Courtroom sketch artist Arthur Lien is one of the few people who can offer a true window into the closed-door hearings of the nation's high tribunal, the man whose brush can paint emotion onto the most emotionless figures in the land. He talked to us about the gay marriage hearings, and his favorite justice to draw.
Two days of historic Supreme Court arguments on gay marriage have cheered legal advocates of gay marriage — who think the end of California's Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act is near — but legal experts say the rulings they expect would mean legal chaos for gay couples.
Here are all the words from inside the Supreme Court's hearing on the Defense of Marriage Act, with justices' questions highlighted so you don't have to read through all the tea leaves.
During today's oral arguments before the Supreme Court, concerning the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg remarked that present rules concerning same-sex marriage create a tiered system, which she compared to the grades of milk one can purchase
The Supreme Court sounds like it maybe be ready to strike DOMA down, but new questions from Justices Anthony Kennedy and Sonia Sotomayor may leave a more sobering reality for advocates of gay rights: After this week's historic proceedings, the Court may not punt on California's Prop.8, and there may not be a sweeping overall ruling on the two same-sex marriage cases.
Today's oral arguments are a big deal, compounded all the more by the will-they-or-won't-they hedge from Day 1. But if you haven't been following this Defense of Marriage Act case for the past four years, or if the last 24 hours have been a little overwhelming with all the legalese, don't worry. We've got you covered.
Clinton signed the federal Defense of Marriage Act in the middle of the night in 1996 because he'd been burned by supporting allowing gays in the military, and he didn't want to get burned again. He's been doing penance for it ever since, and times have certainly changed.
A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.
In what may be the most personal preview of the Chief Justice's emotional opinion on cases that may come down to many more legal specifics than that, his cousin is speaking out on her attendance at the Supreme Court's hearings on Prop 8 and DOMA.
Next week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the two gay marriage cases in front of it. Either decision could legalize the practice in one quick blow. So a bumper crop of organizations and activists are weighing in now, while there's still a reason to.
Bill Clinton does most things right. His entire life, the former president's done nothing but succeed tremendously at everything he does. But even Bubba messes up sometimes.
Not too many people were convinced when Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia tried to use murder to explain gay marriage. Jon Stewart was one of them.
"If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder? Can we have it against other things?" Yes, that's what Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said late Monday. And, yes, that's the word "murder" in there.
Linda Hirshman on DOMA and Prop 8, Gordon G. Chang on China's deindustrialization, Carl F. Nathan on drug-resistant bugs, Michael Jacobs on the Doha climate deal, and Albert R. Hunt on campaign finance.
The Supreme Court decided Friday afternoon to hear both California's Proposition 8 and a DOMA case. Here's what that means.
The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled today that the Defense of Marriage Act, more specifically Section 3— the federal definition of marriage between one man and one woman—violates equal protection and is therefore unconstitutional.
The Department of Homeland Security made it clear to Democratic lawmakers this week that a same-sex relationship qualifies as a reason to delay deporting an illegal immigrant living in the U.S.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, toughest Supreme Court Judge around, gave a cheeky answer to a Colorado student on Wednesday night and predicted she'll be deciding on the Defense of Marriage Act sooner rather than later.
Obama is following up on the goal he set in May to finally repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. The Department of Justice is asking the Supreme Court to hear appeals for two different cases to finally decide whether or not DOMA is constitutional.
News that the Justice Department is delaying cases involving married same-sex couples in anticipation of the repeal of Defense of Marriage Act -- coming just after the President's decision to stop deporting young illegal immigrants -- makes "stalling while awaiting some other branch of the federal government" seem like the hot immigration policy strategy of the week.
The Defense of Marriage Act took another hit on Wednesday when a New York federal judge ruled it unconstitutional, this time because it interferes with the states' right to regulate marriage.
A Federal Appeals court in Massachusetts ruled Thursday that the Defense of Marriage Act violates the Constitution by denying federal benefits to same-sex couples and though it's a narrow ruling, it's still a victory for same-sex marriage advocates as the case makes its way ever-closer to the Supreme Court.
He's long been officially ambivalent about the Defense of Marriage Act, but President Barack Obama made it clear in his remarks at a Ricky Martin-hosted fundraiser in New York Monday night that repealing DOMA is now a goal for him.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White has ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, reports Reuters.
The attorney general says the law violates equal protection guarantees
Jay Carney announced the president's stance in a press briefing today
King & Spalding will not defend the Defense of Marriage Act for House Republicans
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