'About Time,' Says Local Resident of Court's Gay Marriage Ruling

Note: This story has been updated.

Reporting by Mary Ellen Alu, James Boyle and Josh Popichak

Wednesday's highly awaited U.S. Supreme Court ruling struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8, expanding gay rights and paving the way for same-sex marriage in California.

Both nationally and locally, reaction was swift.

On Facebook, Patch readers overwhelmingly expressed support for the decision.

Rose Strong wrote that she is "awestruck" by the ruling.

"Delighted and finally feel my wife and I (married in Maine in December) are on our way to being considered equal in the eyes of the law," she said.

Wrote Perry Costello of Hellertown: "Today is a good day. We're a little closer to 'liberty and Justice for all.'"

And Jeff Mentzer said "It is about time. They should have the same rights as every one else."

Where do you stand on the issue? Do you agree or disagree with the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings? 

At issue was the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited same-sex couples legally married in their states from sharing in each other’s federal marriage benefits.

In its landmark 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled DOMA to be unconstitutional. This opens the way for same-sex couples to file joint tax returns, for example, and file for Social Security survivor benefits.

Also at issue was the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage. The high court ruled that the same-sex marriage opponents did not have the constitutional standing to appeal a lower-court ruling that had overturned the law.

"It's truly a historic day," said Adrian Shanker, agreed president of Equality PA and a Bethlehem resident.

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania tweeted: "Glad #SCOTUS made the right decision on #DOMA to strengthen equal rights for all."

Shanker, however, expressed a cautious sense of victory. He noted that the high court stopped short of making a ruling that would have created a constitutional right to marry.

"It's important to remember that while these rulings are very positive...we still have much more work to do to be fully equal," he said.

The legalization of gay marriage still remains a state-by-state issue. Currently, Pennsylvania does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions. State Representative Darryl Metcalfe (R-Cranberry) has introduced legislation to ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution, but the bill has not moved past committee. 

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, support for gay marriage has grown in Pennsylvania, according to polls conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research (70 percent in favor) and Franklin & Marshall College (54 percent, up from 33 percent in 2006).

In Washington, couples celebrated outside the Supreme Court building and President Barack Obama tweeted: "Today's DOMA ruling is a historic step forward for #MarriageEquality. #LoveIsLove"