Is this the first time that the federal government recognizes marriages performed in a state that the state itself does not recognize? I know it has gone the other way before. That is, the federal government has refused to recognize marriages deemed legal by a state. That's how it was for gay marriages before the Supreme Court overturned DOMA.
The validity of marriage has historically been viewed as a question of state law. The federal government has only taken an interest (now in both directions) since it got entangled with the gay rights issue.
The validity of marriage has historically been viewed as a question of state law. The federal government has only taken an interest (now in both directions) since it got entangled with the gay rights issue.
