The Massachusetts attorney general, Martha Coakley, asked that a federal court strike down the existing ban on gay marriage. Coakley filed suit against the ban, arguing that the law conflicts with a states individual rights to be able to define marriage or recognize civil unions in each state.  

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act has been challenged in federal courts twice this month. Arguing that the act is unconstitutional, gay rights groups brought a case before the judge earlier in May. Activists describe that it is unfair to allow benefits to straight couples but not to same-sex couples.

 In Massachusetts., the attorney general’s offices is arguing that it is a state’s right to be able to define marriage. They claim that the Defense of Marriage Act could potentially deny couples Medicaid and several other same-sex couple benefits in Massachusetts.

 Massachusetts has 15,000 same-sex couples that have married in the stated following the 2004 law making marriage legal for same-sex couples. There have been no indications of which side the rulings will favor.