The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act

A) allowed the federal government to extend spousal benefits, rights, and privileges to same-sex partners from states in which gay marriage was legal.
B) prevented the federal government from extending spousal benefits, rights, and privileges to marriages between same-sex partners.
C) allowed the federal government to recognize civil unions between same-sex partners as the legal equivalent of marriage.
D) banned states from enacting gay marriage laws.
E) allowed gay marriages to be performed by government officials but not religious institutions.