USSC 2013 gay marr rainbow
The rainbow flag of the LGBT community. Reuters

On Wednesday morning, the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act was struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States as unconstitutional, explaining “DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.”

Justice Anthony Kennedy held the following opinion,

“The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity. By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment. This opinion and its holding are confined to those lawful marriages.”

DOMA, a law passed by Congress, and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, prevented same-sex couples whose marriages were recognized in their home state from receiving benefits available to other married couples under federal law.

Another decision by the Supreme Court, on Proposition 8, resulted in making same-sex marriage legal again in the state of California.

Leading up to the announcement, crowds gathered outside of the Supreme Court in eager anticipation. Immediately after the DOMA announcement, crowds erupted with cheer and celebration. Take a look at some of the reactions in photos below.

DOMA Journalists
Journalists stake out positions early in the morning to report on decisions expected in two cases regarding same-sex marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington Reuters
DOMA Flag
A demonstrator waves a flag while awaiting decisions in two cases regarding same-sex marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington Reuters
Journalists
Potential court attendees cross the road to line up for seats to hear decisions expected in two cases regarding same-sex marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington Reuters
DOMA Attendees
Court attendees line up for seats to hear decisions expected in two cases regarding same-sex marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington Reuters
Hardin and Knode DOMA
Hardin and Knode join gay marriage supporters and court watchers hoping for U.S. Supreme Court rulings in the cases against California's gay marriage ban known as Prop 8 and the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, outside the court building in Washington Reuters
News Assistant DOMA
Onlookers applaud as a news assistant sprints out of the U.S. Supreme Court to deliver copies of the court's rulings to news crews outside the court building in Washington Reuters
Crowds DOMA
Supporters of same-sex marriage react to the 5-4 ruling striking down as unconstitutional the Defense of Marriage Act at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. Reuters
News Microphones DOMA
News microphones wait to capture reactions from U.S. Supreme Court rulings outside the court building in Washington Reuters

What do you think about the Supreme Court's decision? Let us know in the comments.

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