The Supreme Court says legally married same-sex couples should get the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples. The Court also cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California\'s gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban.
Michael Knaapen, John Becker Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, right, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013 after the court struck down a federal provision denying benefits to legally married gay couples. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Kris Perry, Sandy Stier, Jeff Zarrillo, Paul Katami Arriving at the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, on a final day for decisions in two gay marriage cases are plaintiffs in the California Proposition 8 case, from left, Paul Katami, his partner Jeff Zarrillo, and Sandy Stier and her partner Kris Perry. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Kris Perry, Sandy Stier, Jeff Zarrillo, Paul Katami, Chad Griffin, Adam Umhoefer Arriving at the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, on a final day for decisions in two gay marriage cases are plaintiffs in the California Proposition 8 case. From left are, Adam Umhoefer, executive director of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, plaintiffs Paul Katami, his partner Jeff Zarrillo, Sandy Stier and her partner Kris Perry, and Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Kris Perry, Sandy Steir California's Proposition 8 plaintiffs, Kris Perry and Sandy Steir walk into the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The Supreme Court is meeting to deliver opinions in two cases that could dramatically alter the rights of gay people across the United States. The justices are expected to decide their first-ever cases about gay marriage Wednesday in their last session before the court's summer break. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
AP Photo/Cliff Owen
Dan Stein, Max Mallory, Andrew Hamm After delivering coffee to visitors to waiting to enter the Supreme Court, SCOTUS Blog interns check their smartphones for updates on the latest news as outside the court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, as the justices are expected to hand down major rulings on two gay marriage cases that could impact same-sex couples across the country. From left to right are Dan Stein, Max Mallory, and Andrew Hamm. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Supreme Court Casey Oakes, 26, of Monroe, N.J., left, Dan Choyce, 21, of Sicklerville, N.J., center left, Zach Wulderk, 19, of Hammonton, N.J., and his brother Dylan Wulderk, 22, right, wait for a ruling on same sex marriage at the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
AP Photo/Cliff Owen
Bryce Romero Gay rights activist Bryce Romero, who works for the Human Rights Campaign, offers an enthusiastic high-five to visitors getting in line to enter the Supreme Court on a day when justices are expected to hand down major rulings on two gay marriage cases that could impact same-sex couples across the country, in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Vin Testa Gay rights advocate Vin Testa waves a rainbow flag in front of the Supreme Court at sun up in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Justices are expected to hand down major rulings on two gay marriage cases that could impact same-sex couples across the country. One is a challenge to California's voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriage. The other is a challenge to a provision of federal law that prevents legally married gay couples from receiving a range of tax, health and pension benefits. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Supreme Court Gay Marriage Phyllis Lyon, facing, hugs attorney Kate Kendall after the Supreme Court decision clearing the way for same-sex marriage in California, at the office of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee at City Hall in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Lyon and her late partner Del Martin became the first officially married same sex couple in California after the state's Supreme Court declared gay marriage legal in 2008. The justices issued two 5-4 rulings in their final session of the term. One decision wiped away part of a federal anti-gay marriage law that has kept legally married same-sex couples from receiving tax, health and pension benefits. The other was a technical legal ruling that said nothing at all about same-sex marriage, but left in place a trial court's declaration that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
APTOPIX Supreme Court Gay Marriage John Lewis, left, and his partner Stuart Gaffney embrace as they react next to Andrea Shorter after the Supreme Court decision at the office of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee at City Hall in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a provision of a U.S. law denying federal benefits to married gay couples and cleared the way for the resumption of same-sex marriage in the state of California. The justices issued two 5-4 rulings in their final session of the term. One decision wiped away part of a federal anti-gay marriage law that has kept legally married same-sex couples from receiving tax, health and pension benefits. The other was a technical legal ruling that said nothing at all about same-sex marriage, but left in place a trial court's declaration that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Michael Knaapen, John Becker Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, right, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Supreme Court Gay Marriage Supporters of gay marriage embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Sharon Burk, Molly Wagner American University students Sharon Burk, left, and Molly Wagner participate in a rally for rights for gay couples in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Sharon Burk, Molly Wagner American University students Sharon Burk, left, and Molly Wagner, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
