Rauch: Supreme Court advances the cause of same-sex marriage
Gabriela Fore, 6, of Upper Darby, Pa., holds Gabriela Fore, 6,
of Upper Darby, Pa., holds a sign with her mothers in front of
the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington as the court heard
arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act. (March 27, 2013) Photo
Credit: AP  advertisement | advertise on newsday  What will be
the effects of the Supreme Court's twin rulings on same-sex
marriage? My first-blush take is that the rulings will have a
modest effect on legal doctrine but a major effect on cultural
momentum.  The Supreme Court did two things today. First, it
overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The federal
government will now have to recognize states' same-sex marriages
--mine among them--as valid for federal purposes. But, second,
the court declined to make same-sex marriage a federal
constitutional right. It punted on that issue. As a result, gay
marriage will go back into effect in California (after a four-
year hiatus), but nothing will change