'Justice and Tolerance Win the Day': Johnston Residents on Gay Marriage Ruling

Some Johnston residents supported Wednesday's ruling in which the United States Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act in a 5-4 vote.

This means that legally married gay men and women are entitled to claim the same federal benefits that are available to opposite-sex married couples, Reuters reported.

Jonathan Krueger of Johnston said he is happy that DOMA and California's ban on gay marriage were rejected by the court.

"It's a great honor to live in America today," Krueger said. "To know, as a member of the LGBT community, that DOMA and Prop 8 were defeated makes me really excited for the future of my rights here in the U.S. Marriage for all."

The majority opinion from the court said that "The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion. “By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment.”

Patrick Walters of Johnston was also pleased with the results.

"The ruling will provide protections long denied a segment of our population," Walters said. "Justice and tolerance win the day."

Marcia Nichols of Johnston said she will remember this day.

"This is an historic day," Nichols said. "Iowans are part of the decision by their leadership on behalf of gay and lesbian couples."

DOMA, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, prevents same-sex couples whose marriages are recognized by their home state from receiving the hundreds of benefits available to other married couples under federal law, according to the Huffington Post.