DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
Defense of Marriage Act.A federal statute that (1) provides that no state can be required to
recognize or give effect to same-sex marriages, (2) defines the term “marriage” for purposes of
federal law as the union of a man and a woman as husband and wife, and (3) defines “spouse” for
purposes of federal law as being only a person of the opposite sex. 28 USCA § 1738C. • The
Defense of Marriage Act was enacted in response to the fear that if one state sanctioned same-sex
marriages, other states might then have to give full faith and credit to those marriages. — Abbr.
DOMA. [Blacks Law 8th]