HUGE news - good day for equal rights / right to choose for all!!!!!!!!!

DOMA is dead!!!!
Prop 8 not going to the Supreme Court!!!!!!!!!
Texas Abortion Bill is dead!!!!!!!!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/supreme-court-doma-decision_n_3454811.html
In a landmark decision for gay rights, a divided Supreme Court Wednesday struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional, NBC News reported. The law has blocked the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages in the states where they are legal. Same-sex marriage is legal in 12 states and Washington, D.C. The decision was 5-4, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy. The court also cleared the way for same-sex marriage to resume in California in a separate decision. The court said it could not take up a challenge to California's Propostion 8, the voter-approved ban on gay marriage passed in 2008.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/California-Same-Sex-Marriage-Prop-8-Supreme-Court-211812241.html
The U.S. Supreme Court decided Wednesday it will not take up a challenge to California's voter-approved Prop 8 -- a ban on same-sex marriage that landed before the Justices after years of legal battles. The ruling states the people who brought this case -- Prop 8 supporters -- had no legal standing to bring the case to the Supreme Court. The decision likely means same-sex marriage can resume in California. The Court decided Prop 8 backers lacked standing under federal law to appeal the case, effectively leaving an earlier ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional in place. The decision vacates the Ninth Circuit Court's ruling and upholds Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional. Another same-sex marriage case before the court was struck down Wednesday when the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The 5-4 landmark ruling strikes down the law, which blocks the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages in the states where they are legal. The DOMA decision, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, stated: "DOMA instructs all federal officials, and indeed all persons with whom same-sex couples interact, including their own children, that their marriage is less worthy than the marriages of others."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/texas-abortion-bill_n_3501005.html?ref=topbar
The Texas anti-abortion bill, which threatened to close nearly all of the abortion clinics in the state and prompted an 11-hour filibuster by state Sen. Wendy Davis (D), is dead, The Austin American-Statesman reported. Lawmakers had to vote on Senate Bill 5 before the special session's end at 12 a.m. local time. However, more than 400 protesters halted the proceedings 15 minutes before the roll call could be completed with what they called "a people's filibuster," The Associated Press reported. The crowd of demonstrators in the capitol cried "Shame! Shame!" when Davis' filibuster was halted by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who ruled that her discussion of mandatory ultrasound testing was off-topic. Then the protesters roared after state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte asked, "At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over her male colleagues?” Their cries continued to echo inside the chamber -- and over a livestream watched by thousands around the world -- until after the midnight deadline passed. Although some Republican lawmakers later claimed the bill had passed in time, Democrats denied that the vote was completed before the clock ran out on the session. A time stamp showing the vote completed after midnight was the deciding factor. “This will not become law,” Sen. John Whitmire (D), told The Austin American-Statesman. In response, the crowd of protesters gathered in the capitol cheered and began singing "The Eyes Of Texas," the alma mater of the University of Texas at Austin.