Politics & Government

Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA: Implications for Maryland

This story was reported by Patch Editor Tyler Waldman.

The Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, entitling all married same-sex couples to federal recognition and benefits.

The ruling means married couples in Maryland will be entitled to tax benefits, legal privileges and other rights previously only available to heterosexual couples.
The court is also set to rule Wednesday on a challenge to Proposition 8, a successful 2008 California ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage there.

Maryland was one of three states to approve same-sex marriage at the ballot box in 2012, after a General Assembly bill was petitioned to referendum. Same-sex marriage is currently legalized or set to become legalized in Washington, DC and 12 states, including neighboring Delaware (where a law is set to go in effect on July 1).

In February, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler filed briefs with the Supreme Court supporting the challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8.


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