Doma Ruling News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

With the makeup of the state legislature and how you would have to amend the constitution -- >> one-third of the country right now can be married legally. one-third of the country. you can't have that number and not have it be a point for the rest of the country. >> people move from other states. >> i don't think this will be a legislative solution in virginia and other states. i think the doma ruling sets the stage for a national legalization or recognition of same-sex marriage from state to state, because that equal protection clause is going to be the thing that proponents of same-sex marri...

Did not make a blanket ruling that applies nationally but rather lifted up the ability of states to recognize the dignity and respect of same sex marriage, and that the federal government couldn't negate the decision by those states. >> now here's what's happened in the last 24 hours since these historic rulings came down. president obama has asked attorney general eric holder with overseeing changes in cabinet agencies in response to the doma ruling. defense department is beginning to distribute spousal benefits. 84-year-old edie windsor said she cried when she heard this news. >> for someone...

Community. >> okay, i'll buy that. >> lennie gerber and pearl berlin were introduced to the world in the know and love campaign last year. and joining me from their home in north carolina. lennie and pearl, welcome back to the show. and lennie, tell me how it felt when you saw the supreme court rulings come down. >> i was just thrilled. i particularly was just exhilirated when i heard the doma ruling, because i was scared they were going to do it on very narrow grounds of state's rights. and that wouldn't have been good. but they did it on equality which was so important. and i was just thrill...

When you saw the supreme court rulings come down. >> i was just thrilled. i particularly was just exhilirated when i heard the doma ruling, because i was scared they were going to do it on very narrow grounds of state's rights. and that wouldn't have been good. but they did it on equality which was so important. and i was just thrilled to death. >> now, pearl, the last time you were on the show you were both on the show, it was just after north carolina had passed an amendment banning marriage equality in that state. and so you could not obtain a marriage legally state-sanctioned. but you have...

Have a look at this. today's doma ruling is a historic step forward for marriage equality, love is love. there you have it. melissa etheridge joins me live now on the telephone from new york. melissa, it's no secret that you have been not only married yourself, but you have four children. this has been a very big case for you. this has been almost life's work for you. i want to get your initial reactions to hearing these decisions today. >> oh, love is love and america is beautiful. it's a wonderful day. it's a wonderful day for america, for all its citizens, and for our amazing constitution. ...