Attorney General Martha Coakley today applauded the decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act as a violation of the rights of same-sex couple guaranteed them by the US Constitution.
“This ruling is a victory for equality and civil rights for all,†Coakley said in a statement released after the 5-4 ruling by the nation’s highest court was released at 10 a.m. today.
And at the office of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, staffers were so overwhelmed by the historic ruling that they wept.
“There are so many tears here, we are so excited, so happy,’’ said Carol Rose, executive director of the civil rights organization. “This is a huge and historic victory for all freedom loving people in America.’’
Today’s decision comes nearly 10 years after the Supreme Judicial Court, in a 4-3 ruling, became the first state supreme court in the United States to rule that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violated their rights under the state’s Constitution.
Rose referenced the SJC decision in her comments today.
“The fact that the court decided this on equal protection grounds means that the freedom we enjoy in Massachusetts will be taken to the entire country,’’ Rose said. “There is a momentum now.â€
Coakley, whose office challenged DOMA in federal courts in 2009, said the majority’s decision means that federal benefits, such as Social Security, can no longer be denied to same-sex couples.
“By striking down DOMA, the highest court has ensured that married same-sex couples are treated equally under federal law,’’ Coakley said in the statement. “Thousands of families throughout Massachusetts and the nation will no longer be denied social security, medical benefits or other fundamental protections simply because of who they love.’’
Coakley is the only attorney general to file a legal challenge to DOMA, and after that lawsuit was dismissed on technical grounds, Coakley continued to challenge DOMA as part of a coalition of 13 attorneys general who filed friend of the court briefs in the case decided by the Supreme Court today.
“I am proud of Massachusetts’ leadership on this important issue that will have a direct impact on so many people’s lives. The institution of marriage is only strengthened when we embrace marriage equality,’’ Coakley said. “Today’s decision is another major step on the march toward equality for all.â€
Alyssa A. Botelho can be reached at alyssa.botelho@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AlyssaABotelho.
