On October 11, 2009, tens of thousands of gay rights activists participated in the National Equality March in Washington, DC. The march occurred one day after President Obama pledged his support to the gay and lesbian community at the Human Rights Campaign annual dinner by vowing to repeal both the military's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Obama certified the repeal of DADT in July 2011 and it took legal effect on September 20, 2011. In July 2011, Obama announced his support of the Respect for Marriage Act — legislation that would repeal DOMA.

Learn more about DOMA from the JURIST news archive, and read about the repeal of DADT in JURIST Features.