Southampton Reacts: Supreme Court KOs DOMA

With the announcement on Wednesday that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Defense of Marriage act unconstitutional, locals across the Hamptons have flocked to Twitter share reactions on the landmark ruling.

The 5-4 decision will mean the federal government must recognize gay marriages in the 12 states in the U.S. that have legalized these unions, including in New York.

Local gay rights advocates and elected officials spoke out as well.

"Our country is a better place today because of these decisions," said Lisa Votino-Tarrant, a Shinnecock Reservation resident who has worked for the Human Rights Campaign toward legalizing same-sex marriage in New York. "Millions of people will now be treated equal under our laws. It is important to note though that there are still 37 states that do not allow same sex marriage. Today we celebrate, tomorrow we get back to work."

"As Justice Kennedy's opinion noted, DOMA violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fifth Amendment," said New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele Jr., of Sag Harbor, in a statement. "Further, this is a matter better left to the states to decide. New York State took a national leadership role when it legalized same-sex marriage through the 2011 Marriage Equality Act. This federal decision re-affirms the leadership role taken by New York State."

“It’s nothing short of miraculous," David Kilmnick, the chief executive officer of the Long Island Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Services Network, said on Wednesday.

“This law was just so clearly discriminatory and clearly so unconstitutional that I could not see any other way the court would rule,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop also showed his support.

"Today’s ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional is another important step in the struggle to eradicate discrimination from federal law. It is also a victory for the families who will now be able to access the benefits and rights accorded to married partners by the federal government if they are legally married in a state. America is a more just and more pro-family nation as a result of this decision," he said in a statement.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was quick to praise the decision as well. 

"Two years ago, New York became the largest state to enact marriage equality, and since then we have seen a growing recognition across the country that all citizens deserve equal rights under the law, regardless of sexual orientation," he said in a statement.

"It is my hope that today’s breakthrough decisions will propel our nation forward and finally allow all Americans to be granted the same rights and protections under the law." 

See the livestream above. And if you are in the area, tweet with the #DOMA hashtag to be added to the stream.