Supreme Court Bolsters Gay Marriage With Two Major Rulings  —  WASHINGTON — In a pair of major victories for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that married same-sex couples were entitled to federal benefits and, by declining to decide a case from California, effectively allowed same-sex marriages there.

The Five Craziest Reactions To The Marriage Equality Rulings  —  It was actually sunny in Washington today.  (Credit: National Organization for Marriage)  —  Though the strong majorities of Americans who support marriage equality and equal federal benefits for gay couples celebrated today's …

Minutes After Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA, Immigration Judge Stops Deportation Of Married Gay Man  —  A New York City immigration judge immediately stopped the deportation proceedings of a gay Colombian man who is legally married to an American citizen soon after the Supreme Court struck …

Antonin Scalia Is Angry.  Again.  —  Ten years ago, when the Supreme Court ruled that laws outlawing sodomy between consenting adults were unconstitutional in the case of Lawrence v. Texas, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote a blistering dissent.  “What a massive disruption of the current social order,” he practically wailed from the page.

Antonin Scalia's Gay Marriage Dissent Is Dripping With Contempt And Sarcasm  —  Today the Supreme Court threw out Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages even if they are allowed under state law.

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY CLINTON ON TODAY'S SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY  —  By overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, the Court recognized that discrimination towards any group holds us all back in our efforts to form a more perfect union.

Frank Rich on the National Circus: Gay Marriage Triumphs, Roberts Be Damned  —  Every week, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich talks with contributor Eric Benson about the biggest stories in politics and culture.  This week: SCOTUS defeats DOMA, the Voting Rights Act suffers a mortal wound …

IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  Statement by Secretary Hagel on DOMA Ruling  —  The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court's decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act.  The department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court's decision in consultation …

Screaming protest disrupts vote on abortion bill  —  Sen. Wendy Davis, speaking to a large and adoring crowd gathered outside the Senate door, thanked her supporters.  —  “Today was democracy in action,” she told the crowd.  “You all are the voices we were speaking for from the floor.”

Texas abortion bill fails to pass after epic filibuster  —  A bill that opponents claimed would virtually ban abortion in Texas failed to pass late Tuesday after lawmakers missed a deadline by just minutes.  —  There were chaotic scenes after a filibuster attempt fell just short and protesters cheered …

Name Mix-Up Helped Snowden Leave Hong Kong … The U.S. Justice Department needs to pay more attention to names and numbers when requesting other governments to detain its citizens, Hong Kong officials say.  —  By now, the world is very familiar with the name Edward Snowden …