In a pair of landmark decisions, the Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the 1996 law blocking federal recognition of gay marriage, and it allowed gay marriage to resume in California by declining to decide a separate case.
The court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to gay couples who are legally married in their states, including Social Security survivor benefits, immigration rights and family leave.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority in a 5-4 decision, said that the act wrote inequality into federal law and violated the Fifth Amendment’s protection of equal liberty.
“DOMA’s principal effect is to identify a subset of state-sanctioned marriages and make them unequal,” he wrote.
Edith Windsor, the 84-year-old woman who brought the case against DOMA, said that the ruling ensured that the federal government could no longer discriminate against the marriages of gays and lesbians.
“Children born today will grow up in a world without DOMA, and those same children who happen to be gay will be free to love and get married,” she said.
jenpsaki: hi...just found this forum, looks so nice
Nov 18, 2022 19:46:02 GMT -8
April: Hi jenpsaki, thank you for the compliment! Life keeps me away from here too much, but feel free to join us if you want
Nov 26, 2022 14:00:48 GMT -8
Asintended: Almost spring!!!!!
Mar 15, 2023 11:37:26 GMT -8
Kai/noreallyit'skai: omg it's been forever. Your site still looks gorgeous! Hope you've been well April.
Apr 4, 2023 19:42:56 GMT -8
April: Oh wow, yes it has been forever indeed! Thank you I've been pretty okay, I hope you've been well also!!
Apr 10, 2023 20:32:21 GMT -8