In what is seen as a major victory for the gay-rights movement, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the federal government may not restrict the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples.
US Supreme Court Rules on Gay Marriage
![Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, right, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, June 26, 2013, after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California.](https://gdb.voanews.com/7C677DC4-3C9E-458C-8FCD-A9DEA91AECF0_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, right, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, June 26, 2013, after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California.
![Journalists stake out positions early in the morning to report on decisions expected in two cases regarding same-sex marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, June 26, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/BB11DAE3-2800-426B-B5B0-1AE35EFA07FA_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Journalists stake out positions early in the morning to report on decisions expected in two cases regarding same-sex marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, June 26, 2013.
![Vin Testa from Washington, waves the rainbow flag in support of gay marriage in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, June 24, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/F9D2EAA8-CA58-455E-9685-9C6BDB36DFBB_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Vin Testa from Washington, waves the rainbow flag in support of gay marriage in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, June 24, 2013.
![People wait outside the Supreme Court in Washington as key decisions are expected to be announced.](https://gdb.voanews.com/B66E2B83-8FA9-4279-BE0D-D2B25E0C8D5B_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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People wait outside the Supreme Court in Washington as key decisions are expected to be announced.