So, apparently, at least as far as spouses and pensions go, the rights of a Homosexual couple are likened to espionage and treason. Either that, or they need to pay for extra insurance to protect their rights to leaving a pension to their spouse. Something that, it seems, Heterosexual couples can do automatically?

Am I missing something here?

because the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act bars the federal government from recognizing Studds' marriage.

This appears to be what you missed

Right - but why would this bill stop gay couples from recieving the same rights as their heterosexual couples in this day and age?

(Then again, only 1 state has legalized gay marriage and 1 other (Vermont) calles them "Civil Unions" but grants the same benefits... So I guess I really shouldn't be surprised. Makes me wonder how they (and the rest of the US) will react to this...)

There are places within the US which have legalized marijuana and violators of federal law go to jail nonetheless. Similar thing.