Brian Mathers calls his husband, Isidro, in Mexico from his living room in Sioux City, Iowa. Brian and Isidro have been separated for more than a year by immigration laws that did not recognize their marriage. Durrie Bouscaren/NPR hide caption
Same-Sex Marriage And The Supreme Court The U.S. Supreme Court weighs two gay marriage cases: a challenge to California's same-sex marriage ban, known as Proposition 8; and a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
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Same-Sex Marriage And The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court weighs challenges to California's ban and to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Advocates for gay marriage in gather outside the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday. Mel Evans/AP hide caption
Judge Vaughn Walker struck down California's proposition banning gay marriage in 2010. The Supreme Court kept that ruling intact on Wednesday. Elaine Thompson/AP hide caption
Bernice Frucht, 80, found what proved to be the ideal retirement job through a want ad. In 20 years, she's conducted something like 7,500 weddings. Alan Greenblatt/NPR hide caption
In Montpellier, France, Vincent Autin (center) and Bruno Boileau, with Mayor Helene Mandroux, are married in a civil ceremony on May 29. They were the first same-sex couple to marry in France after the government voted to legalize gay marriage. Claude Paris/AP hide caption
Allan Hoyle of North Carolina (center) protests gay marriage outside the Supreme Court. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has now written two landmark gay rights decisions. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption
Edith Windsor is mobbed by journalists and supporters as she leaves the Supreme Court on March 27, when the court heard oral arguments in the case that challenged the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
A couple celebrates upon hearing the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act at City Hall on Wednesday in San Francisco. The high court ruled on DOMA, and will rule on California's Prop 8 as well. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
Plaintiff Edith Windsor of New York waves to supporters in front of the Supreme Court in Washington after the court heard arguments on her Defense of Marriage Act case. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption
Mike McConnell (left) and Jack Baker -- the couple in the Baker v. Nelson case — attempt to get a marriage license in Minneapolis in May 1970. The AP reported in December 2012 that the two are still together. R. Bertraine Heine/Minnesota Historical Society/AP hide caption
Fabiola Morales jokes with her father-in-law, Robert F. Costello III, a retired financial adviser, while preparing lunch in the family's kitchen. Kelly Costello's dream is to be able to sponsor Morales and feel "secure and stable." Gabriella Demczuk/NPR hide caption
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Winslow of Massachusetts wants same-sex married couples to have the same right to pool their money for political donations as other married couples. But the Federal Election Commission says the Defense of Marriage Act won't allow it. The constitutionality of DOMA is now before the Supreme Court. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption
Same-sex wedding cake topper figurines at Cake and Art in 2008 in West Hollywood, Calif. David McNew/Getty Images hide caption
Police stand guard in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday as the justices hear arguments on the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
This artist rendering shows Paul Clement (second from left) with Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. (seated, right), addressing the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Justices pictured are (from left) Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan. Dana Verkouteren/AP hide caption
As embattled, closeted lawyer Andrew Beckett, Tom Hanks brought gay rights to trial in 1993's Philadelphia. Bureau L.A. Collection / Corbis hide caption
This artist rendering shows Roberta Kaplan, attorney for plaintiff Edith Windsor, addressing the Supreme Court during arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act on Wednesday. Dana Verkouteren/AP hide caption
Transcript And Audio: Supreme Court Arguments On Defense Of Marriage Act
Hundreds of people line up outside the Supreme Court for a chance to hear oral arguments Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in the second case this week about same-sex marriage. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
Demonstrators gathered again outside the Supreme Court Wednesday as the time approached for another case to be heard about issues related to same-sex marriage. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption