The
decision by Judge John E. Jones is a victory for civil rights supporters in Pennsylvania, especially for couples who
took the controversial law to court.

The

case was filed last summer by the American Civil Liberties Union of
Pennsylvania on behalf of two dozen Pennsylvania residents against the
1996 Defense of Marriage Act that banned the marrying of gay
couples or recognizing gay marriages.

Governor
Corbett's office defended the rule after Attorney
General Kathleen Kane rejected it as unconstitutional.

Today, in
Pennsylvania, the Constitution prevailed. Inequality in any form is
unacceptable and it has never stood the test of
time.

— AG Kathleen G. Kane (@PaAttorneyGen) May
20, 2014

For Judge Jones, "we are a better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them."

To celebrate this historic decision, Philadelphia's City Hall has extended registration hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be open from 8 AM to 7 PM.

After
today's PA DOMA decision, the register of wills is staying open
late today - till 530 pm. Tomorrow extended hours 8 am - 7
pm.

— City of Philadelphia (@PhiladelphiaGov) May
20, 2014

Rue Landu and Kerry Smith were the first gay couple to be married in the city.