FEC Rules Against Recognizing Donations from Gay Couples

DOMA won't allow them to be treated as spouses

Republican state Rep. Dan Winslow is running for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, where gay couples can legally marry. Can a same-sex couple donate to his campaign like straight couples are able to do?

The Federal Election Commission on Thursday said no and cited the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as a reason in its advisory opinion.

DOMA defines marriage as between one man and one woman and states that spouse refers to the person of opposite sex. The Supreme Court in March sounded skeptical about the law, which prevents legally married gay couples from receiving tax breaks, survivor benefits under Social Security and other federal benefits.