News

Judge rules federal same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional

Reading: Judge rules federal same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional

 Loading ...

A federal judge in Boston, Massachusetts, has ruled that the federal ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, because it interferes with an individual state’s right to define marriage.

The ruling gives same-sex married couples in Massachusetts the same right to federal benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro ruled that “as irrational prejudice plainly never constitutes a legitimate government interest,” the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the protection under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

Tauro ruled simultaneously in favor on two separate lawsuits that were filed by the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) on behalf of eight same-sex married couples and three widows, and by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage has been permitted for over six years.

Continue Reading at CNN.com.

You might also like

Impeachment trial of federal judge gets underway in U.S. Senate – CNN.com The U.S. Senate on Monday begins the impeachment trial of federal judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. -- the...

Va. Governor: Wouldn’t Rule Out State Insurance Mandate Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said that, in theory, he would consider backing a state measure requiring...

Appeals court turns to state on key Prop. 8 issue California's highest court, which has issued three rulings on same-sex marriage in less than seven years,...

Man detained in sweep after Times Square bomb ordered back to Pakistan A Massachusetts man taken into custody in a law enforcement sweep after the Times Square bombing attempt...