Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, also known as DOMA. The law banned federal benefits for same sex marriages. The court found that DOMA was unconstitutional in that it deprived equal liberty of persons pursuant to the Fifth Amendment. Now, military benefits will be extended to all military spouses, regardless of their sex. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel released a statement: “The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act,” it read. “The Department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court’s decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses — regardless of sexual orientation — as soon as possible. That is now the law, and it is the right thing to do”. Read Article Here