US Supreme Court rules Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington (Reuters)

The United States Supreme Court made two landmark rulings early Wednesday with regard to a pair of controversial laws limiting rights for same-sex couples.

In a 5-4-decision issued Wednesday morning, the high court ruled that that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, overturning a nationwide legislation that limited benefits for same-sex couples.

Moments later, the court dismissed an appeal regarding Proposition 8, a decision that will once again legalize same-sex marriage in the state of California.

Both decisions out of Washington are already being hailed as important steps in ensuring equality for same-sex couples across the United States.

With regard to the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, the court ruled on Wednesday that the federal government must recognize state-sanctioned same-sex marriages. Gay couples will receive access to numerous federal benefits such as tax breaks and survivor assistance aid. Such benefits were previously only afforded to heterosexual couples. 

Under DOMA, the federal government recognized marriage exclusively as the union of one man and one woman, although same-sex marriage is legal in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

President Barack Obama was en route to Senegal when the ruling was announced at 10 a.m. Wednesday, but weighed in from his official Twitter account.