DOMA Struck Down – What Is Gulfport Saying?

The Defense of Marriage Act has been ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. DOMA is the law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by the states. 

There was a 5-4 vote in the decision.

“DOMA divests married same-sex couples of the duties and responsibilities that are an essential part of married life,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, according to the Miami Herald.

Although same-sex marriages are not recognized under Florida law, several cities — including St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota — as well as Pinellas County have passed domestic partnership registries that allow couples, gay or straight, certain rights in health care and other decisions.

The reaction on Twitter included in this article is a live feed of what people around Tampa Bay are posting on the subject.

"The country got it right finally!" wrote Jan Lowe on the Gulfport Patch Facebook page. "Ruling in equal protection is huge very happy day input household this is what my WIFE & I have worked for all our life!!!!!"

"An increasingly rare moment of sanity and clear judgment from the SCOTUS that gave us Citizen's United and struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act," posted Lincoln Stewart. "Thank goodness even a broken clock is right twice a day (if it's analog.)"

We'd love to know what you think of the ruling here. You can post a comment on this story, or you can write your own article about it, by starting your own page.

To read more live coverage of the decision, head over to the Huffington Post.