The Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling overturned the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and also ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional on June 29. Thus allowing for same-sex marriage in California to resume as well as same-sex marriage will now have federal recognition.

On Wednesday thousands of gay right supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court building and waited for the results of the ruling. Not only was the ruling a huge achievement for same-sex marriage supporters, it was also an important day in American history.

Proposition 8 was created by opponents of same-sex marriage after California’s Supreme Court appeal ruling, In re Marriage Cases, stating the attempt to ban same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.

Since Prop 8 arose it caused huge controversy and public uproar from same-sex marriage supporters not only from California but from the nation. There were even petitions in July 2008 to remove Proposition 8 from the ballot, which the California Supreme Court denied. Still Prop 8 was passed back in November 2008 during the California state elections.

DOMA was a law signed in 1996 by President Clinton, stating that the definition of marriage being between a man and woman for the purpose of federal law.

This caused huge problems for same-sex marriage couples since they couldn’t get the federal recognition or honor. Same-sex couples were denied health insurance and pension protection for federal employee’s spouses, social security benefits for widows/widowers, joint income tax filing and immigration protections all because of DOMA.

Still, with these victories for same-sex supporters there are still some things that bring up questions from the Supreme Court’s ruling. One is the Supreme Court Justices had the chance to be broad in their statement as to implicate other state’s laws, but they did not.

Also, Justice’s rulings are not usually final until 25 days, and it’s been said that it will take at least that long until June 29 decision to become official.

With this mass amount of change in society, many citizens are concerned about the Supreme Court’s ruling. Even if they are for or against same-sex marriage the ruling could be seen as a threat to democracy. As quoted by journalist, Valerie Richardson of The Washington Times, “the decision effectively gives state officials the unchecked power to nullify ballot initiatives they dislike by refusing to enforce them or defend them in court.”