How does the Omnibus Equality Bill handle marriage equality?
If a couple enters into a valid marriage, civil union (CU), or domestic partnership (DP) authorized by any state (local DP registries excluded), regardless of the state in which the couple permanently resides, the federal government will recognize the union and for all federal purposes treat you and your spouse as though you are married. So even if the the opposition succeeds is calling it something less, the feds will treat it as a marriage (though minus the “m” word for CUs and DPs). Nothing in this rewording of DOMA requires any state to recognize the marriage, CU or DP. Nor does it necessitate that the state you live in recognize your union in order to receive federal rights and protections. This section is not the final answer on marriage equality by a long shot. It does dodge the “state recognition” issue for all federal purposes, but many states, especially those that passed their own DOMA laws and constitutional amendments will probably continue to deny state recognition. But t
