Supreme Court DOMA Ruling: For Senator Patrick Leahy, It's A Late Victory

A historic ruling by the Supreme Court today struck down Section Three of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which had defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman for the purposes of federal benefits. The news was especially welcome to the nation's estimated 24,700 binational couples. For the first time, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will be permitted to sponsor their foreign-born spouses for green cards -- visas for permanent residence.

Among the many who embraced the ruling was Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a longtime advocate for the rights of same-sex couples who during the creation of the Senate's immigration reform bill had pushed for it to extend the right to green cards to foreign-born same-sex spouses.

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Part of the Senate Judiciary Committee which considered the earliest amendments to the comprehensive immigration reform bill, Leahy had drawn up his own amendment which would have extended much the same protections as those now affirmed by the Supreme Court's decision. Amid Republican threats to withdraw their support -- calling it a "poison pill" -- and pressure from his fellow Democrats not to do anything which might derail the bill, Leahy reluctantly withdrew it during the panel's mark-up session in May.

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"I do not believe we should ask Americans to choose between the love of their life and love of their country," Leahy said at the time. "Discriminating against a segment of Americans because of who they love is a travesty and it is ripping many American families apart."

After the court's decision was announced on Wednesday, Leahy's website featured a statement calling it "a major step toward full equality." And Leahy said that he would drop the immigration reform amendment, which he had considered reintroducing later in the legislative process.

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"With the Supreme Court's decision today, it appears that the anti-discrimination principle that I have long advocated will apply to our immigration laws and bi-national couples and their families can now be united under the law," Leahy said. "As a result of this welcome decision, I will not be seeking a floor vote on my amendment."

GLAAD, the LGBT anti-defamation group, also celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.

"At long last, the legal marriages of countless gay and lesbian couples will be afforded the same federal recognition and protections as any other," said GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz in a statement. "Today is a cornerstone for justice and equality -- when our nation once again moved closer to recognizing and celebrating all LGBT Americans for their contributions to our great country."