Apparently Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott would like us to have absolutely no recognition under the law. 

Abbott issued an opinion yesterday stating that domestic partner benefits offered by local Texas governments were unconstitutional. 

More after the jump.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled today that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutionally discriminates against married same-sex couples.

The case was brought to the court by Edith "Edie" Windsor. Windsor's wife, Thea Spyer, died in 2009 and she left all of her property to her spouse. While deceased spouse's estate typically would go to the surviving spouse without any estate tax, DOMA prevents the federal government from recognizing the state-recognized legal marriages of same-sex couples.

Windsor had to pay $363,000 in federal estate taxes as a result. More after the jump. 

With five consecutive federal court losses to their credit in DOMA cases, we're really curious as to why House Republicans, who control the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, continue to spend taxpayer money on legislation that appears to be both on its way out and unconstitutional.

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy has a simple answer: it's their duty.

He elaborates after the jump.

Great news!

U.S. District Court Judge Vanessa L. Bryant found today that in the case of Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management, Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, is unconstitutional.

Details after the jump.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has filed an official request with the US Supreme Court asking them to uphold a recent appeals court decision striking down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage solely as the union of a man and a woman.

More after the jump.

Many House Democrats are eager to distance themselves from their anti-gay congressional colleagues.

A large majority of House Dems joined House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in submitting what's being described as "the Democratic Members' brief."

The brief, submitted to the California federal appeals court, conveys the Democratic party's support for Karen Golinski in her lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act.

More after the jump.

Two county clerks in Illinois have been given the green-light to defend Illinois' same-sex marriage ban against a lawsuit filed in the state's Cook County by 25 same-sex couples.

Cook County State's Attorny Anita Alvarez and Attorney General Lisa Madigan have refused to defend the same-sex marriage ban, citing their belief that it is in violation of the Illinois constitution. (This is similar to the Obama administration refusing to defend DOMA, based on their belief that it violate the US constitution.)

More after the jump.

Is the average American tax payer aware that Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner keeps using their tax dollars to pay independent lawyers to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (after the Obama administration refused to), even though they lose EVERY TIME DOMA is brought under judicial review?

The mind boggles.

Anyway, DOMA has once again been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge, this time in the case of Edie Windsor who was forced to pay a $353,053 estate tax bill after the death of her wife.

If her marriage had been recognized by the federal government the tax would not have applied, hence showing the discriminatory aspects of DOMA. More after the jump!

Richard Socarides, the former White House aide from the Clinton years, explains the importance of Thursday's "Defense of Marriage Act" ruling by the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. 

So, what does Richard have to say about the Court finding the heart of DOMA unconstitutional?

Updated 1:30 p.m. EST

More details and responses from the country's top LGBT organizations have trickled in following today's historic unanimous ruling by a federal appellate court against the "Defense of Marriage Act."

Another day, another federal judge in California has declared found the "Defense of Marriage Act" to be unconstitutional. Details follow. 

A federal appeals court will hear an appeal by a bipartisan congressional group on Wednesday in Boston, in an attempt by the group to overturn a ruling that declared a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional.

More after the jump.