Celebrating a historic day for gay rights

American University students embrace in D.C. — (Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday helped the gay-rights movement take two giant steps forward. In one ruling, the court declared that the federal Defense of Marriage act was unconstitutional, allowing same-sex couples to receive federal benefits. Then the court effectively quashed California's voter-approved ban on gay marriage, known as Proposition 8, by ordering an appeals court to dismiss a case defending the ban.

As the back-to-back rulings were announced, gay rights supporters across the country turned to one another in utter jubilation — tears were shed, kisses were shared, and hearty hugs were passed around. Here, a roundup of such heartwarming reactions.

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Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.