The Supreme Court today struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, calling it unconstitutional in a 5-4 ruling. The decision will extend federal benefits to legally married gay couples.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, and was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito dissented.
The Court also dismissed California's Prop 8 appeal. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, saying that California is not defending the law, and thus private petitioners have no standing to defend it.
Celebrities, gay and straight, took to Twitter to support the SCOTUS DOMA and Prop 8 decisions handed down Wednesday. Actress Kristen Bell, who previously stated she would not marry until same-sex couples could marry in California, even tweeted a marriage proposal to actor Dax Shepard.
.@daxshepard1 will you marry me? Xo #marriageequality #loveislove”
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) June 26, 2013
Remember the old days when #DOMA was around and gay people couldn't get married in California? Crazy right!?
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) June 26, 2013
No one be shocked if I get married and pregnant with a daughter today in a slightly premature fit of joy #americathebeautiful
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) June 26, 2013
DOMA and Prop 8 should get married.
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) June 26, 2013
If you're gay married in California your gay marriage is now legal. Good. #allmarriageisabitgay
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) June 26, 2013
Unsurprisingly, Justice Scalia wrote a scathing dissent, and dear Justice Thomas chewed gum throughout the entire proceeding.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 26, 2013
Today is the greatest day so far in my life. Goodbye DOMA hello Equality.KT is crying with happiness.To everyone that backed this we thank u
— Suze Orman (@SuzeOrmanShow) June 26, 2013
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 26, 2013
I guess the Prop 8 & DOMA decisions are headlining SCOTUS FEST
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) June 25, 2013
