Tri-Cities Talk: Residents React As Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA

Patch Editor Shannon Antinori contributed to this story.
The Supreme Court announced its decision Wednesday that the Defense of Marriage Act—a law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages—is unconstitutional and violates the Fifth Amendment.

In the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy called the federal statute invalid, adding that the law "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.” Click to read the full text of the ruling.

Congressman Bill Foster (D-11) praised the court's decision to strike down the statute, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

“My father was a civil rights lawyer, and I was raised with a strong belief that all people deserve equal rights and protection under the law,” Foster said in a statement released Wednesday morning. “That is why I am pleased to see that the Supreme Court has upheld the ideals of our Constitution and struck down DOMA. While this is truly a historic day for members of the LGBT community across the country, we must continue to do everything possible to ensure equal rights for all of our citizens.  I will continue to stand with the LGBT community in their struggle for equality, because everyone— no matter who they are, where they came from, or who they love—deserve equal rights under the law.”

In Chicago, LGBT groups were planning to celebrate the ruling and to push Illinois legislators to legalize gay marriage with a Wednesday night rally at Halsted and Roscoe.

The decision is a win for gay rights activists, who scored another victory Wednesday as the high court also voted 5-4 that Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state of California, is also unconstitutional.

Michele Meyers Randall: A step in the right direction... —Batavia Patch Facebook 

Brianna Adair Nesbitt: SCOTUS have overturned something that should have never been voted into law. This is a GREAT day to be an American! —Geneva Patch Facebook

Nicole Rita: I'm glad they voted it unconstitutional. I think if two people want to get married, go for it. It in no way diminishes or effects my marriage to my husband. —St. Charles Patch Facebook 

Samantha Tuck Tawzer: This decision is over due. It is definitely the right thing to do. —Geneva Patch Facebook

What's your take? Tell us in the comments.