American Civil Liberties Union

About the author: The American Civil Liberties Union is a national organization that works to defend civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

The Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and gives states the right to not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, is unconstitutional and unfair. The act discriminates on the basis of sex by making the ability to marry dependent on one's gender. The act also violates the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution, which requires that all states recognize the legal judgments of other states. Prohibiting gays and lesbians from marrying denies them the protection from discrimination that civil marriage provides.

Editor's note: The ACLU's statement supporting same-sex marriage was submitted as testimony to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary...