Gay rights supporters celebrate Supreme Court rulings

A couple celebrates upon hearing the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act at City Hall in San Francisco, June 26, 2013.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a controversial federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, in a major victory for supporters of same-sex marriage.

Read more: Supreme Court strikes down key part of DOMA, dismisses Prop 8 case

Revelers drive past San Francisco City Hall waving rainbow flags and an American flag shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California, June 26, 2013.

Married couple Michael Knaapen (L) and John Becker (R) kiss after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional at the Supreme Court, June 26, 2013.

Attendees at a watch party in Miami celebrate after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage in California, June 26, 2013.

Gay rights activists and city leaders celebrate in San Francisco's City Hall, June 26, 2013, shortly after a U.S. Supreme Court decision cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California.

At the podium, long time gay rights advocate City Attorney Dennis Herrera addresses the crowd.

John Lewis, left, and Stuart Gaffney embrace outside San Francisco's City Hall shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California, June 26, 2013.

Gay rights supporter Vin Testa waves a rainbow flag outside the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.

John Lewis, second from right, and his partner Stuart Gaffney celebrate after the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California at the office of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee at City Hall in San Francisco, June 26, 2013.

Plaintiff couples Sandy Stier (L) and Kris Perry (2nd L), and Paul Katami (R), and Jeff Zarillo (2nd R) arrive at the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.

Glennda Testone (C) Executive Director of the The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center celebrates with staff after the U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the "Defense of Marriage Act" that prohibits federal recognition of gay marriage, June 26, 2013.

Gay rights supporter Vin Testa waves a rainbow flag outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington D.C., June 26, 201.

Same-sex couple Lisa Kirk, left, and Lena Brancatelli, right, celebrate on the phone with Brancatelli's mother after learning the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage in California, June 26, 2013, at their home in San Jose, Calif.

Gay rights supporter Jay Norris, of New York City, holds a U.S. flag outside the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.

Gay rights supporters Brian Sprague (L) and Charlie Ferrusi, from Albany, N.Y., hold a Human Rights flag outside the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.

Gay rights supporters await the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions at City Hall in San Francisco, June 26, 2013.

Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, right, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, June 26, 2013 after the court struck down a federal provision denying benefits to legally married gay couples.

Gay rights activist Bryce Romero, who works for the Human Rights Campaign, offers an enthusiastic high-five to visitors getting in line to enter the Supreme Court on a day when justices are expected to hand down major rulings on two gay marriage cases that could impact same-sex couples across the country, June 26, 2013.

Vin Testa of Washington waves a rainbow flag in support of gay rights outside the Supreme Court in Washington, June 25, 2013, as key decisions are expected to be announced.

Plaintiff couple Kris Perry (L) and Sandy Steier arrive at the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.

American University students Sharon Burk (L) and Mollie Wagoner (R) embrace after hearing that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional at the Supreme Court, June 26, 2013.

(L to R) Plaintiff couples Kris Perry, Sandy Steier, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo (R) arrive at the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.

Plaintiff couples Kris Perry (L), Sandy Steier (2nd-L), Paul Katami (2nd-R) and Jeff Zarillo (R) arrive at the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.

John Lewis, left, gets a kiss from his partner Stuart Gaffney as they embrace after the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California at the office of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee at City Hall in San Francisco, June 26, 2013.

Nikolas Lemos waves a rainbow flag outside San Francisco's City Hall shortly before a Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California, June 26, 2013.

Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, right, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban, June 26, 2013.

Edith Windsor, 83, the plaintiff in the case that challenged DOMA is seen at the apartment of her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, while the Supreme Court decision was announced, June 26, 2013.

Edith Windsor, center, accompanied by her attorney Robert Kaplan, right, is greeted by Orie Urami, left, as she arrives at the LGBT Center for a news conference, in New York, June 26, 2013.

Ellen Pontac, left, and her wife Shelly Bailes, celebrate in Sacramento, Calif., after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage in California, June 26, 2013.

Domestic partners Alicia Guajardo, left, and Isabella Restrepo, both 24 of Los Angeles, react to the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act at the offices of Equity California, the state's largest gay rights group, in West Hollywood, Calif., June 26, 2013.

Gay rights activists react outside the U.S. Supreme Court building, June 26, 2013.