The Politics of Same-Sex Marriage: Tracing the Issue through Congress and the Courts

Abstract

The issue of same-sex marriage is currently a topic of fierce debate in this country. To help policymakers, practitioners, and members of the American public better understand both the topic and the direction of the debate, this article gives a brief history of the issue, describes some significant legislative and legal developments, and offers some comments on the ways in which the outcome of this debate could potentially affect federal policy.