Same-sex marriage in the United States

An appeals court ruled Thursday that the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies several federal benefits to gay married couples, is unconstitutional.

President Barack Obama shook up the presidential campaign on Wednesday by declaring his support for same-sex marriage. The decision comes after two members of his leadership team declared their own support.

Last week, the Maryland Senate approved a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. The bill, which follows a similar one from 2011 that died in Maryland’s House of Delegates, now awaits the Governor’s signature — scheduled for Thursday.

Republicans in the US House of Representatives had hired a law firm, King and Spalding, to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. King and Spalding has now announced it is withdrawing from the case.

Last month, for the first time, a majority of Americans polled by Gallup said they were in favor of legalizing gay marriage.