Celebrate Gay Times, C'mon!
From the steps of San Francisco's City Hall to the memorials of Washington, D.C., a look at the gay marriage celebration heard 'round the world.
Charles Dharapak/AP
The Supreme Court made a million new best friends Wednesday after declaring the Defense of Marriage Act "unconstituional" and dimissing California's Proposition 8—two landmark decisions that bring the nation one step closer to marriage equality. From the steps of San Francisco's City Hall to the memorials of Washington, D.C., a look at the gay marriage celebration heard 'round the world.
Left, Michael Knaapen and his husband John Becker embrace outside the Supreme Court.
Charles Dharapak/AP
A couple beams with excitement outside San Francisco's City Hall, where judges dismissed the 2008 California ballot initiative that prohibited same-sex marriage on the basis that the "petitioners did not have standing to appeal the District Court's order."
Justin Sullivan/Getty
Gay marriage supporter Vin Testa waves a rainbow flag as waits to hear the Supreme Court's verdict. Shortly after the news, the twittersphere erupted in celebration, with President Obama tweeting: “Today’s DOMA ruling is a historic step forward for Marriage Equality. #LoveIsLove.”
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, the couple behind the Prop 8 case arrive at the courthouse. Together for a decade, they are the proud parents of four boys.
James Lawler Duggan/Reuters
Triumphant shouts rang out outside the Supreme Court at roughly 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning as the official 5-4 ruling proved the end of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.
Charles Dharapak/AP
Same sex couple Lisa Kirk and Lena Brancatelli cry tears of joy while on the phone with Brancatelli's mother at their home in San Jose, Calif.
Eric Risberg/AP
One Iowa Executive Director Donna Red Wing, right, reacts from Des Moines, Iowa. Same-sex couples have been able to wed in Iowa since a 2009 Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalized gay marriage. Red Wing plans to marry her longtime partner later this year in Iowa.
Charlie Neibergall/AP
Plaintiffs in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the California Proposition 8 case, respond to the crowd on steps of the Supreme Court.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Executive Director of New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center Glennda Testone celebrates with staff.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP (top left),Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty
#Americathebeautiful. A gay rights activist runs out of the Supreme Court as rulings were handed down.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
A couple in Nashville, Tenn. holds thier son Luke as they read results of Supreme Court decisions from their home. The death of DOMA means that same-sex couples will now be entitled to hundreds of benefits—including joint tax returns, Social Security, health insurance, and pension protection.
Mark Humphrey
Onlookers outside the Supreme Court take a moment to reflect on the historic smackdown of DOMA. The federal law defined the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman—a piece of legislation which denied federal benefits to gay couples whose marriages were recognized at the state level.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
D.C. residents cross the road to line up for seats at the Supreme Court to hear decisions in SCOTUS' two same-sex marriage cases. The justices issued two 5-4 rulings in their final session of the term. One decision wiped away part of a federal anti-gay marriage law that has kept legally married same-sex couples from receiving tax, health and pension benefits. The other was a technical legal ruling that said nothing at all about same-sex marriage, but left in place a trial court's declaration that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
James Lawler Duggan/Reuters
Juan Talavera kisses his partner Jeff Ronci after the announcement of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling, at a watch party in Miami.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Two women hug outside the court in Washington after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on cases against the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's gay marriage ban known as Prop 8.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.