Gay lobby’s next target: Benefits in all 50 states

Gay rights lobbyists plan to use their victory at the Supreme Court to push legislation that would ensure married same-sex couples are eligible for federal benefits in all 50 states.

Activists triumphed at the Supreme Court on Wednesday when the majority ruled the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a Clinton-era law that had prevented gay couples from receiving federal benefits, is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

But the groups said their victory was incomplete because it's not clear from the court ruling if married gay couples would lose their benefits if they move to one of the 37 states where gay marriage is illegal.

That means another major lobbying battle is at hand for groups on both sides of the marriage debate.

"What the Supreme Court basically did this morning was put a stake in the heart of DOMA, but it didn't kill DOMA yet," said Jo Deutsch, the federal director for Freedom to Marry.

Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/308085-gay-lobbys-next-target-benefits-in-all-50-states#ixzz2XSXD4q8Z