However, concerns expressed over separate ‘Proposition 8’ ruling

Amnesty International has this afternoon welcomed a decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down a provision in a law that restricted access to federal funds for those in same-sex marriages.

The ruling concerned section three of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Amnesty International USA Deputy Executive Director Frank Jannuzi said:

“We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down section 3 of DOMA to ensure that legally married same-sex couples can access federal benefits.

“However, we are concerned about the Court’s decision on California’s Proposition 8 which effectively punts on the issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples throughout the United States. 

“Marriage equality for same-sex couples is a human right.

“By effectively denying recognition of marriage rights for same-sex couples outside of the state of California, the Court has allowed to continue a discriminatory legal system that also prevents many people from accessing a range of other rights, such as rights to housing and health care, and stigmatises those relationships in ways that can fuel discrimination and other human rights abuses against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity."