Legal Experts Say Gay Marriage Question Will Hit Supreme Court Before End of 2012

A federal appeals court in Boston is the first to say the law unfairly denies equal benefits to legally married gays. The decision sets the stage for a ruling by the Supreme Court.

By Jorge Rivas May 31, 2012

On Thursday, a Boston federal appeals court ruled the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it denies equal benefits to gay and lesbian couples. Legal experts believe the gay marriage question will come to the U.S. Supreme Court sometime before the end of the year. The unanimous three-judge decision marks the first time an appeals court has declared the federal law unconstitutional.