Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional, Court Says


Court also effectively allows same-sex marriage to resume in California.

he Supreme Court today issued two major decisions favoring same-sex marriage.

In its first move, the court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, saying it "violates basic due process and equal protection principles applicable to the federal government."

"DOMA instructs all federal officials, and indeed all persons with whom same-sex couples interact, including their own children, that their marriage is less worthy than the marriages of others," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the court.

In the second case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, the court essentially allowed same-sex marriages to resume in California. The court said that supporters of the state ban on same-sex marriages, 2008's Proposition 8, couldn't challenge a lower court's decision striking it down. Read more

Also read
Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Provision in Defense of Marriage Act
Supreme Court Dismisses Prop. 8 Appeal; Gay Marriage Moves Forward in California
Supreme Court strikes federal marriage provision

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