( CNN ) -- The wedding photo shows the happy couple poised to kiss , ready to begin an adventure that has now taken them to the U.S. Supreme Court . For Karane and Jamelle Thomas-Williams , this is a fight for recognition by the federal government of their legal same-sex union , part of a landmark constitutional appeal over same-sex marriage and `` equal protection . '' Their love has united them , but the larger social issue has split the country for more than four decades . Rulings in that and a related appeal over state marriage laws are expected from the high court Wednesday . The Washington , D.C. , couple were legally married last October -- but not in the eyes of some of their employers or elected leaders . Karane serves her community as a Metropolitan Police officer . Jamelle serves her country in the U.S. Air Force Reserve . But since she is a federal worker , the couple can not share the 1,000-plus federal perks enjoyed by married heterosexuals -- joint tax returns , loan programs for veterans , and survivor , pension , bankruptcy , family medical leave and health insurance benefits . Under the Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) passed in 1996 , marriage is defined for federal purposes as between one man and one woman . That means the estimated 120,000 gay and lesbian couples legally married in nine states and the District of Columbia are still considered -- in the eyes of DOMA opponents -- the equivalent of girlfriend and boyfriend . CNNMoney.com : Big money at stake in same-sex marriage ruling . `` As a federal employee and as an airman , you get a constant reminder that you 're second class , '' Jamelle told CNN . `` I had to list Karane as my sister just so that someone would call her in the event that I 'm killed or missing in action , or I 'm hurt on the job . She ca n't be my emergency contact , she ca n't receive my remains . As far as my death benefit , I had to list her as 'other . ' '' Adding to the confusion is Karane 's status as a D.C. government employee . She enjoys the benefits of her relationship with Jamelle because her local government in the nation 's capital recognizes same-sex marriage . `` But once we step outside of D.C. , it 's a whole other ballgame , '' said Karane . In neighboring Virginia , which does not recognize their marriage , the couple says they are viewed as `` legal strangers . '' The woman at the center of the case . What is federal government 's role in defining marriage ? The larger debate over DOMA 's intent and impact 17 years after passage has driven a wedge between the executive and legislative branches . At issue is what role the federal government should play when it comes to marriage -- something states have traditionally controlled . Challenging DOMA : 5 things we learned . `` What the court is being asked to decide is whether or not Congress can pass a law that treats same-sex couples , who are already married under the laws of their state , different from opposite-sex couples , '' said Amy Howe , a leading appellate attorney and editor of SCOTUSblog.com . Four federal district courts and two appeals courts have already struck down the law 's restrictive benefits provision . And in a rare move , the Obama administration also abandoned its defense of congressional authority , saying DOMA is unconstitutional . That has left House Republicans in the unconventional position of stepping in to argue it should stay in place , at least for now . Traditionally , the role of defending federal law would fall to the U.S. solicitor general 's office . But President Barack Obama , in an election-year stunner , said last May he now supported same-sex marriage . The president had already ordered Attorney General Eric Holder not to defend DOMA . That raised the question of whether any party could rightfully step in and defend the law . Justices could put an end to hard choice for gay couples . Besides the constitutional issue , the justices had specifically ordered opposing sides to argue a supplemental question : whether congressional Republicans -- operating officially as the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the U.S. House of Representatives -- have `` standing '' or legal authority to make the case . `` Let 's not confuse the issue of DOMA and the administration 's decision that it was unconstitutional , '' House Speaker John Boehner , R-Ohio , told CNN . `` It is not their role to decide what 's constitutional . DOMA was a law that was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Clinton . In our system of government , the administration does n't get to decide what 's constitutional -- the Supreme Court does . And our financing the lawsuit was to make sure the proper forum was used to make sure that we know what 's constitutional and what is n't . '' Supporters of traditional marriage agree . `` DOMA 's important because Congress said it 's important , '' said Austin Nimocks , senior counsel at the legal ministry Alliance Defending Freedom . `` We sent our elected representatives to Washington , D.C. , and they chose to say that marriage is one man and one woman for purposes of federal law . '' And many conservatives argue the courts should stay out of the larger constitutional issues and let citizens and the legislatures hash it out . Some activists worry nine unelected justices will issue a sweeping 50-state mandate and redefine marriage as whatever personal bond they now think it is . Carrie Severino , chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network , says nothing in the Constitution tells states whether and how they should `` evolve '' on such an established institution . She said liberty is fundamental right , but that government also has broad discretion to affirm the idea marriage is mainly about ensuring biological children are raised in a stable two-parent family with a mother and father . Same-sex marriage in the 21st century `` is clearly not what anyone understood as marriage at the time of the framing of the Constitution , '' she told CNN , saying that should be enough to keep the high court out of the current case . Gay couple fights for right to marry in epic high court case . Lack of protections , benefits if partner deploys . Jamelle and Karane said they hit it off immediately after they met by chance at a downtown club 's Ladies Night , and felt like they had known each other forever . They were together four years before marrying last October . Karane said she went to Jamelle 's mother first to ask her daughter 's hand in wedlock . Sitting in their comfortable Washington home , they appear blissfully happy being together , but DOMA has put unexpected strains on the marriage because of `` little frustrations . '' For one thing , they worry what could happen when Jamelle gets sent overseas in a war zone . `` Technically , I am a single person deploying , '' she said . `` So I do n't have any protection for my family . I could deploy tomorrow and there would be nothing in place to help my family . It would be just me . So that 's definitely scary . Financially , making sure that the responsibility that we have to each other and to our families is taken care of , and it would be like I 'm leaving Karane in a lurch . '' Karane added : `` It 's like we have to still go above and beyond just to get to where heterosexual couples already are . '' They believe they are burdened by a triple social stigma -- as women , black and lesbians . The couple hopes to have children someday , but that would create further layers of what they say are discriminatory rules . For now this self-described `` boring couple '' say they look forward to the day their children would be born and raised in a post-DOMA world . But regardless how the Supreme Court rules , they say they will persevere . `` I should be able to walk with my wife hand in hand and live our life . We should n't have to sit here on the edge of our seats , waiting for a decision , '' said Karane . `` Are we going to finally be able to just be recognized without any strings attached ? ... We 're humans , we live in a strange society , and we have to work with what we 've got . '' Kevin has a family : A same-sex couple 's remarkable journey . CNN 's Joe Johns and Stacey Samuel contributed to this report .
Court to rule on Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) . Same-sex couples not able to receive federal perks for married . Debate is over role of federal government in the issue .