Supreme Court's Gay Marriage Decision Cheered on Twitter

This article was written by Amy Sara Clark and Matthew Hampton.

In a landmark decision for gay rights, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday morning that the Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996, is unconstitutional.

The decision extends federal benefits to married gay couples nationwide — though it does not compel individual states to recognize same-sex marriage. 

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, in which the court cited the Constitution's provision of equal protection, according to published reports.

The 5-4 vote was hailed by gay rights activists and area politicians, who saw it as the next step in a long civil rights journey.

"The Supreme Court’s decision today brings us another step forward in the march of freedom, a journey we must never stop traveling," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“Those who still stand in opposition should remember that on matters of freedom and equality, history has not remembered obstructionists kindly – not on abolition, women’s suffrage, workers’ rights or civil rights. The same will be true on marriage equality," he added. 

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand also hailed the decision. "Today is a historic day for our country on its long march towards upholding the fundamental values this country was founded upon of fairness, equality and justice," she said. "I am overjoyed the Supreme Court has ruled to end the discrimination that had been enshrined into U.S. law." 

In Brooklyn, Borough President Marty Markowitz, a longtime advocate of gay marriage, said that today marks the first time the LGBT community is being treated with "liberty and justice."

"Bravo to the Supreme Court as our nation has taken another step towards a day when every lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender American is treated with liberty and justice,” he said.