US to appeal ruling on gay marriages

Oct 14, 2010 |

Washington, Oct. 13: The Obama administration on Tuesday appealed a federal judge’s ruling giving the state of Massachusetts the right to authorise gay marriage.

In July, the Boston-based US district judge, Mr Joseph Tauro, ruled that the 1996 federal law known as the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, “imposes an unconstitutional condition on the receipt of federal funding.”

In its court filing, Justice Department lawyers said it was appealing the ruling and that its arguments would be presented in November. Congress “has exceeded the scope of its authority” in passing the law, which limits marriage to men and women,” said Mr Tauro.

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