Supreme Court: Defense of Marriage Act Is Unconstitutional

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court has struck down a major part of the controversial Defense of Marriage Act. The court said the portion of DOMA that prevents same-sex couples from receiving federal benefits given to married individuals is unconstitutional. The decision, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, said DOMA is a violation of “equal protection principles” and under the act “same-sex married couples have their lives burdened, by reason of government decree, in visible and public ways.” The decision overturns the parts of the measure that was first signed by President Clinton in 1996 that defined marriage as a union between a man and woman, and denied federal benefits to same-sex couples married in states where gay marriage was legal …