Local Officials Applaud Supreme Court Ruling on Gay Marriage

Reactions poured in Wednesday on the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling clearing the way for same-sex unions to resume in California.

Assemblymember Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, applauded the ruling.

“These dual rulings will give respect and dignity to millions of gay and lesbian Americans," Bloom said. "The decision is pivotal for Californians and a historic step forward in the struggle for full marriage equality across the country.”

In a 5-4 ruling, the court found that backers of Proposition 8, which was approved by California voters in 2008 and banned same-sex marriage, lacked legal standing to challenge a lower court ruling that found the measure unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court today also struck down a key portion of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted in 1996 and defined marriage solely as a union between opposite-sex couples. The court ruled that the act was unconstitutional by denying federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

Rep. Henry Waxman called the ruling on DOMA historic.  

"Justice Kennedy courageously recognized that all married couples deserve the same recognition, dignity, and rights," Waxman said. "The Court says that the federal DOMA statute limiting marriage serves no legitimate purpose. This is clearly the only right answer and it is long overdue."

He said the first step is to fix the harm that DOMA has caused. 

"We must now begin the complicated and detailed work in each of these programs to make them equal and fair," Waxman said. "I will work in all programs and through all bureaucracies to advocate those changes."

He expressed disappointment for the court failing to rule on Prop. 8. 

"That failure is going to mean years of further litigation throughout the Nation," Waxman said. "That new litigation could have been avoided if the Supreme Court had simply recognized that marriage is a fundamental right that should be equally available to all people, gay or straight."