The Reform movement, the Anti-Defamation League and Rabbis for Human Rights-NA welcomed a court decision ruling unconstitutional an application of the Defense of Marriage Act.

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, in Boston, on Thursday upheld a lower court’s ruling that denying gay couples federal benefits accorded to straight couples was unconstitutional.

“We commend the First Circuit Court of Appeals’ unanimous decision striking down the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act’s provisions denying federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples,” said Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, in a press statement. “Today’s decision is a vital, overdue, and very welcome step toward marriage equality and a more just society.”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Rabbis for Human Rights-North America also issued a statement of praise for the First Circuit court’s decision noting that “while each rabbi or religious leader may determine the guidelines of religious marriage in his or her community, the state has an imperative to grant all citizens the rights that accompany civil marriage.”

In its statement, the ADL called the decision “a clear affirmation that the principle of equal treatment means that same-sex couples are entitled to all of the federal rights, protections and benefits of civil marriage.”

The three-judge panel became the first federal appeals court to issue a ruling against the 1996 federal government ban on same-sex marriage.

The decision comes two weeks after President Obama issued his support for the same-sex marriages following an earlier statement of support by Vice President Joe Biden on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Conservative groups are likely to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Until that court decides whether to proceed, the decision remains inactive.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount