(Image source from: Historic Day For The Gays: Supreme Court Gives A Nod})

As what can be deemed as a double-barreled historic feat for the gay right advocates, the Supreme Court  finally agreed to give same-sex couples equal federal footing like all other married Americans as well as lift the 5-year-old ban on gay and lesbian marriages in California. The dual decisions were doled out by two different coalitions comprising of some liberal and a few conservative justices.

This historic decision that followed years of struggle came as a great relief  for the gay-right supporters who broke into celebration no sooner the declaration was made. The opponents, however, were disappointed and vowed to continue with their crusade.

In the first of its rulings, the Supreme Court abolished a part of the federal marriage act that withheld same-sex couples from receiving health, pension and tax benefits like other married Americans.

Lauding the court's ruling, President Barack Obama said, "It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it."

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, the main defender of the federal law against same-sex marriage, balked at the court's ruling.

Image Source: Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Gay Marriage

AW: Suchorita Dutta