Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense of Marriage Act
A major milestone for gay rights has officially happened - the Supreme Court has struck down a federal law barring the recognition of same-sex marriage in a split decision, ruling that the law violates the rights of gays and lesbians.
What does this mean? Under the old law, gay couples who are legally married in their states were not considered married in the eyes of the federal government, and were ineligible for the federal benefits that come with marriage. DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) extends to more than 1,000 federal laws and statutes, including immigration, taxes, and Social Security benefits.