Supreme Court strikes down DOMA, celebs respond

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has struck down a federal provision denying benefits to legally married gay couples, the Associated Press reports. The Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons protected by the Fifth Amendment: “DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled to recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty,” the Court’s 26-page opinion, written by Justice Kennedy, states in part. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Scalia wrote dissenting opinions.

In another 5-4 decision, the Court has also dismissed an appeal regarding California’s Proposition 8, which ruled that only marriages between one man and one woman would be valid or recognized in the state. As a result of the dismissal, same-sex couples can now legally marry in California — though as CNN notes, the decision does not say whether same-sex marriage is a constitutionally-protected right in every state.

Check out celebrities’ (and the president’s) tweets about the decisions below:

https://twitter.com/IMKristenBell/status/349901645343232000

https://twitter.com/lenadunham/status/349893892126146560

https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/349891584768225280

https://twitter.com/Carrie_Rachel/status/349893700446457856

https://twitter.com/SandraBernhard/status/349894381261688834

https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/349894675253051393

https://twitter.com/sethmeyers/status/349898590715514880

https://twitter.com/DamonLindelof/status/349896274394361857

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