Will the United States recognise the marriages of same-sex couples performed in Canada?
Marriages of same-sex couples performed in Canada are now lawful marriages under Canadian law. Theoretically, all jurisdictions in the United States should give them the same recognition they would give any other Canadian marriage. However, the U.S. government’s 1996 “Defense of Marriage Act” is one impediment, as well as similar legislation in many states. In addition, a bill has recently been introduced in Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution. As noted by the Human Rights Campaign, “the language of the amendment is few in words but clear in its discrimination: ‘Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any State, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.’ This amendment must be passed by 2/3 of the House and Senate and ratified by 3/4 of the states in order to change the Constituti
Related Questions
- Are same-sex marriages, lawfully performed outside of New York, entitled to the same rent protections applicable to lawfully recognized marriages between opposite-sex couples?
- If same-sex couples in California can begin to marry again starting on August 18, will those marriages be valid if Judge Walker’s ruling is later overturned on appeal?
- Do the American people want to see "marriages" between same-sex couples recognized by law?
