The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that for the first time it will tackle the issue of same-sex marriage. Defying most expectations, the justices said they will examine two cases, presenting the possibility that the court could decide all the basic issues surrounding same-sex marriage in one fell swoop.
As expected, the court said it will rule on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA. The case tests whether the federal government can deny federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples — benefits that are automatically granted to heterosexual couples.
Less expected was the court’s decision to review California’s ban on same-sex marriage, known as Proposition 8. That case potentially could lead to a decision on whether gay couples have a constitutional right to marry.
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
