Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA. Sort of.

The Supreme Court has ruled. Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. Same-sex couples married in states where it is legal must receive the same federal health, tax, Social Security and other benefits that heterosexual couples receive. Other aspects of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act remain, and only 13 states and the District of Columbia believe civil marriage is a civil right, so legal and legislative battles will continue.

In a related case, the Court ruled that supporters of California’s Proposition 8  did not have the legal standing to challenge a federal court decision that ruled it unconstitutional. This may clear the way for same-sex marriage to resume in the state.

More:

“DOMA ruling: Key quotes from the court,” Alia E. Dastagir, USA Today

“At Supreme Court, victories for gay marriage,” Robert Barnes, Washington Post

“How Edith Windsor Learned She Won,” Ariel Levy, The New Yorker News Desk

“Huckabee on DOMA Case: ‘Jesus Wept,'” Kevin Spak, Newser

“House Republicans Charged The American Taxpayer $2.3 Million To Lose DOMA Case,” Ian Millhiser, Think Progress

“Tax Implications Of The Supreme Court’s DOMA Decision: Same-Sex Couples To Be Subject To Marriage Penalty,” Tony Nitti, Forbes

“Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, Alito Suddenly Realize They Will Be Villains In Oscar-Winning Movie One Day,” The Onion

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Tags: Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, GLBT, LGBT, marriage, marriage equality, same-sex marriage, SCOTUS, Supreme Court