ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the legislative and policy issues that are most threatening to marriages and families in America. Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) ensures protection of the traditional family structure, and, thus, the nation's children, civil society, reproduction, and the future of America. Within the legislation, there are four main supports for the government's defense of marriage. They include: advancing the government's interest in defending and nurturing the institution of traditional, heterosexual marriage, defending traditional notions of morality, protecting state sovereignty and democratic self-governance, and preserving scarce government resources. One of the hottest current public policy issues is the question of whether or not "safe sex" sex education or abstinence education is best for young people. Many argue that students are going to be sexually active anyway, so it is best to teach them "safe sex". In 2010, New York became the fiftieth state to adopt a no-fault divorce policy.
