DOMA Ruling: Port Washington-Saukville Reacts to Supreme Court Decision

On a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act Wednesday, paving the way for same-sex married couples to receive federal benefits, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

That doesn’t change much for Wisconsinites, since same-sex marriage is still not allowed under state law. While same-sex marriage has been adopted in 12 states, a narrow companion ruling on a California case leaves same-sex marriage bans in place in other states, the newspaper says.

The Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton, blocked federal recognition of gay marriage.

With that said, some Port Washington and Saukville residents took to our Facebook page to voice their opinion on the historic ruling. Here's a sampling:

Jennifer Rigg-Huettl: The constitution is about protecting rights, not taking away, so had this not happened there would have been a real problem.

Jill Glander: Federal gov't got it right.

Greg Huegerich: Lift the ban would be nice, but a court challenge to the WI law based on DOMA's violation of the US constitution, where these laws seek to create a second class of citizen would be perfectly reasonable as well. People do deserve equal protection under the law.

E Jason Godersky: Gay Rights = Non Issue. We have so many things going on in this country that are fundamentally changing the way of life for the Middle Class....And not in a good way. Why are we even concerned with this nonsense? Trust me...if the GLBT community wants marriage let them have it. I was married and I'm getting divorced. Perhaps there would be some sanctity to Marriage if Straight Couples hadn't destroyed the institution of it 1st. 

I seriously need to get my Law Degree and specialize in Family Law.

Michael Erickson: The problem is a definition of a word. You don't change the definition of a word to suit your needs. Create a new word. Stop calling it marriage and you can do whatever you want.

Kenzie Wenner: I am completely for same sex marriage. I have heard all arguements for and against it and i believe that love is love. I saw a quote that really describes the way i feel about it. "Pat and Chris got married. I dont know whether they are male and female, male and male, or female and female. And it is none of my buisness". Worry about your own marriage. Just because your bible tells you it isnt okay doesnt mean everyone elses bible says the same thing. This country should not be run according to one religion. Church and state need to be kept seperate for the fact that not everyone believes the same thing. And above all else, this country has WAY bigger problems then two men wanting to get married and file joint jaxes!