Supreme Court Strikes DOMA, Upper St. Clair Reacts

In the Supreme Court's 5-4 opinion striking down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the law denies equal treatment to gay and lesbian couples and "singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled of recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty." 

He said the law violates the Fifth Amendment by singling out a class of people who, otherwise, would be entitled to protections that the state had granted to couples who are lawfully married under the state's marriage laws.

Kennedy noted his opinion focused on states that recognize lawful marriages between same-sex couples—of which Pennslyvania is not one.

In a separate ruling, the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California. It was also a 5-4 ruling. 

We got a variety of reactions from Upper St. Clair Patch Facebook users. 

"It has been an eternity of discrimination and bigotry ... finally getting chipped away!" Ron Lane wrote.

"It is yet one step further away, from being a country based on biblical principles. Our forefathers were people who believed in the Bible and based the values and principles of the newly founded America on those beliefs. How far we have come (and I am not saying that in a complimentary way)," Rhoda Smith wrote.

Click here to read more reaction from Upper St. Clair.

Click here to read the thoughts of a Pittsburgh activist.

About 300 people in Pittsburgh gathered downtown on Liberty Avenue to listen for the rulings and to celebrate.

What do you think about the Supreme Court's rulings on Wednesday? Tell us in the comments section below.