Victory for the gay rights movement at Supreme Court
- 11 years ago
Major victories for the gay rights movement as the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a federal law that restricted the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples.
In a separate ruling the High Court paved the way for gay marriage in California by avoiding a ruling on a state ban.
The 5-4 vote the Defense of Marriage Act, means that legally married gay men and women are entitled to claim the same federal benefits that are available to opposite-sex married couples.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion that the Defense of Marriage Act violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.
In the California case, the court sidestepped a broad ruling that would impact the whole country saying it could not decide a closely watched case on the constitutionality of a California law that restricts marriage to opposite-sex couples.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PLAINTIFF JEFF ZARILLO, SAYING:
"Today the Supreme Court said that I am more equ
In a separate ruling the High Court paved the way for gay marriage in California by avoiding a ruling on a state ban.
The 5-4 vote the Defense of Marriage Act, means that legally married gay men and women are entitled to claim the same federal benefits that are available to opposite-sex married couples.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion that the Defense of Marriage Act violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.
In the California case, the court sidestepped a broad ruling that would impact the whole country saying it could not decide a closely watched case on the constitutionality of a California law that restricts marriage to opposite-sex couples.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PLAINTIFF JEFF ZARILLO, SAYING:
"Today the Supreme Court said that I am more equ