The US Supreme Court has struck down a law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman only, in a landmark ruling.
The court's 5-4 vote said the Defense of Marriage Act, known as Doma, denied equal protection to same-sex couples.
The court also declined to rule on a California ban on same-sex marriage known as Proposition 8. The decision paves the way for gay unions there.
Opinion polls show that most Americans support gay marriage.
Twelve US states and the District of Columbia recognise gay marriage, while more than 30 states ban it.
'Doma writes inequality'
The Doma decision means that legally married gay men and women are entitled to claim the same federal benefits available to opposite-sex married couples.
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