The Supreme Court overturned the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on a 5-4 vote Wednesday in a historic win for gay rights activists.
Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy found DOMA violated the Fifth Amendment's due process clause.
"DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled to recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty," Kennedy wrote. "It imposes a disability on the class by refusing to acknowledge a status the State finds to be dignified and proper. DOMA instructs all federal officials, and indeed all persons with whom same-sex couples interact, including their own children, that their marriage is less worthy than the marriages of others."
DOMA, passed in 1996, defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman for the purposes of federal law. The court's decision overturning DOMA means married couples in the 12 states that allow same-sex marries or unions are now subject to the same federal benefits and regulations bestowed upon hetrerosexual couples.
The court also dismissed an appeal of a lower court's ruling on California's Proposition 8 on standing. That decision means Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that outlawed same-sex marriage in California, will remain overturned and same-sex marriage will once again be legal in that state.
Court-watchers grew anxious on social media on Wednesday as the time of decisions grew near: As it was the last day of the court's current term, process of elimination told us DOMA and Proposition 8 decisions would come as the clock struck 10 a.m. Washington time.
Once the decisions were released, Twitter exploded in a mixed frenzy of celebration and derision:
DOMA struck down! Great step towards equality!! #equality #SupremeCourt— Jessica (@Jkungle) June 26, 2013
#DOMA has been declared unconstitutional! #AboutTime!— Krystal (@HoperAndDreamer) June 26, 2013
Human rights win today with strikedown of #DOMA— Kirsty Vitarelli (@kirstyvitarelli) June 26, 2013
Also happy prop8 was taken down so now gay marriage is back in California :)— Arturo Diamandis (@TheArturoGarcia) June 26, 2013
DOMA how about DOOM! God forgive our country. #Prop8— Alecia Robinson (@AleciaKyle) June 26, 2013
Supreme Court overrules God.— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) June 26, 2013
Today's DOMA ruling is a historic step forward for #MarriageEquality. #LoveIsLove— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 26, 2013
DOMA UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!! America, fuck yeah, baby!!!!— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 26, 2013