Appeals Court: Denying Federal Benefits to Same-Sex Couples is Unconstitutional

On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional as its definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman only, discriminates against gay couples. The appeals court agreed with a lower court ruling from 2010 holding that the law is unconstitutional because it interferes with the right of a state to define marriage and denies married gay couples federal benefits given to heterosexual married couples. Some of these benefits include joint tax filing, immigration sponsorship, and Social Security survivor payments. Until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the issue, the 1^st Circuit decision will not be enforced, meaning that same-sex married couples will not be eligible to receive any federal benefits.

Read more: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/31/11990019-appeals-court-denying-federal-benefits-to-same-sex-couples-is-unconstitutional?lite