Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA

The Supreme Court's decision that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional is creating a number of reactions from Pennsylvania lawmakers and residents. 

"It's truly a historic day," said Adrian Shanker, president of Equality PA and a Bethlehem resident.

Shanker, expressed a cautious sense of victory. He noted the high court stopped short of making a ruling that would have created a constitutional right to marry.

"It's important to remember that while these rulings are very positive...we still have much more work to do to be fully equal," he said.

Shanker said that LGBT equality is about more than just marriage, but the rulings, especially on DOMA, were a good jumping off point. 

Shanker said the Proposition 8 decision could affect people in Pennsylvania, as same sex couples in the state had chosen to get married in California.

"To be honest, my mind right now is an interesting emotional place," he said.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., recently released a statement agreeing with the decision. 

“As a U.S. Senator representing Pennsylvania, I have read many letters written to me by LGBT Pennsylvanians and their families who want nothing more than equal rights under the law," he said. "These letters included deeply personal statements from people across our Commonwealth and had a substantial impact on my decision to support marriage equality. I believe the Supreme Court’s ruling on DOMA was a critical step in strengthening equal rights for all.”

State Senator Daylin Leach released a statement in support of the Supreme Court's decision.

"I know where I stand," he said. "It's time for our government to do right by ALL of the people of our great Commonwealth, and pass marriage equality and anti-discrimination legislation this year.”

The Defense of Marriage Act, a law stating that the U.S. government does not recognize same-sex marriages, was deemed unconstitutional in a Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday.

"What this means, in plain terms, is that same-sex couples who are legally married will be entitled to equal treatment under the federal law," Amy Howe, the editor of the Supreme Court's blog said, providing "income taxes" and "social security" as examples of benefits that are now available to same-sex marriages.

Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his opinion that he saw the law as "a deprivation of … equal liberty."

"DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled of recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty," he said.

The Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to legally married gay couples, was passed in 1996.

Also at issue was the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in that state.  The high court ruled that the same-sex marriage opponents who brought the case did not have the constitutional standing to appeal a lower-court ruling overturning the law.

Tell Us: Do you agree with the Supreme Court's decision? Should legally-married gay couples have access to the same rights as traditionally-married couples? Tell us in the comments.

(Additional reporting by Mischa Arnosky)