World

US supreme court rules for gay rights

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bans same-sex married couples from receiving federal benefits.

The court ruled 5-4 to strike down the law, with Justice Anthony Kennedy providing the crucial swing vote. Liberal judges all voted in favor of striking down the law, while conservatives in the court opposed.

The court said the law violated equal protection by providing benefits to heterosexual couples while denying them to gay couple in the 12 states plus the District of Columbia where same-sex couples may marry.