Gay-marriage rulings: Six stars who fought for same-sex marriage rights

1/25

The Supreme Court strikes down key parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and opens the way for gay marriage in California. Celebrities weigh in on Twitter.

Full coverage on Prop. 8 and DOMA (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

2/25

“Big news from the Supreme Court. Goodbye #DOMA #Prop8. Hello #equality.” — @BenAffleck (Mark Davis / Getty Images)

3/25

“Very pleased about the Supreme Courts rulings today on DOMA and gay marriage in CA.” — @WilliamShatner (Matt Sayles / AP)

4/25

“AND no standing on #prop8?? Same sex marriage is legal in california! I better be getting some wedding invites... #whatdoiwear?” — @Sarah_Hyland (John Shearer / Invision / AP)

5/25

“DOMA is dead. Prop 8 is dead. Now let’s bring my big, gay marriage to @IMKristenBell to Life!!!!” — @daxshepard1 (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

6/25

“#PROP8 IS GONE! #DOMA IS GONE! #SCOTUS #LoveIsLove” — @ricky_martin (Scott Barbour / Getty Images)

7/25

“Hey! You know what? The Kids Are All Right! Defense of marriage falls! We chose love over hate! Goodbye #DOMA” — @Mruff221 (Matt Sayles / AP)

8/25

“It’s a supremely wonderful day for equality. Prop 8 is over, and so is DOMA. Congratulations everyone. And I mean everyone.” — @TheEllenShow (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)

9/25

“Today is a good day. A great day. A historic day. So proud of our country. #love&equalityforall” — @DebraMessing (Evan Agostini / Invision / AP)

10/25

“I’m so happy about today’s decision I could kiss a man! http://instagram.com/p/bBvBpgih2Z/” — @JohnStamos (Charles Sykes / Invision / Associated Press)

11/25

“We stand tall today.#DomaStruckDown So many fought for so long. Be proud, the prejudice are now the minority. pic.twitter.com/teni7GREDY” — @ladygaga (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)

12/25

“We are all equal and have the right to love. So proud to be an American. #equality” — @nickjonas (Dan Hallman / Invision / Associated Press)

13/25

“RIP bigotry. #SCOTUS #DOMA” — @piersmorgan (Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP)

14/25

“I am SO beyond happy to wake up to the news of DOMA and Prop 8 being voted unconstitutional! FINALLY!” — (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

15/25

“Remember the old days when #DOMA was around and gay people couldn’t get married in California? Crazy right!?” — @jessetyler (Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images)

16/25

“A big day for equality and human rights. I’m smiling so big right now.” — @Alyssa_Milano (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

17/25

“If you’re gay married in California your gay marriage is now legal. Good. #allmarriageisabitgay” — @rustyrockets (Ellis O’Brien / Associated Press)

18/25

“Thank you to the plaintiffs, the lawyers David Boies and Ted Olsen, to Rob Reiner, Chad and all organizations who made this happen & SCOTUS!” — @iamwandasykes (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

19/25

“Down w DOMA! Something to be very proud of this upcoming July 4th. We are making beautiful progress for Equality! #proud” — @adamlambert (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

20/25

“First Wendy, now DOMA gets the boot! Sometimes things are really great.” — @lenadunham (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

21/25

“Oh, we still got 99 problems, but #DOMA ain’t 1.. @illydad” — @elizadushku (Peter Kramer / AP)

22/25

“so long DOMA. here’s to equal rights for all.” — @woodelijah (Theo Wargo / Getty Images)

23/25

“Awesome, awesome day to be an American. Yay, marriage equality!!!!! Knew it was coming. Glad it was today. Congrats, Us!” — @MarthaPlimpton (Janette Pellegrini / Getty Images)

24/25

“Supreme court: same sex marriage can resume in California

So awesome!” — @EllenPage (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

25/25

“Live & let live. Love & let love. Hate impedes progress. #Human #CitizensOfEarth http://say.ly/zdM68cQ” — @SethGreen (Michael Kovac / Getty Images for Montblanc)

By Dana Ferguson

June 26, 2013 12:47 PM PT

[This post has been corrected. See note below for details.]

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions that help clear a path for gay marriage in this country, film and television stars are celebrating the landmark moment.

Many of these celebrities have actively supported same-sex marriage for years, helping to raise money and awareness for the cause as they promote their Hollywood work. Here are six who have had a role in the fight -- and their reactions Wednesday morning.

Kristen Bell

Bell and her fiance Dax Shepard, both advocates for marriage equality, formally announced their engagement Wednesday morning after the SCOTUS decision.

Bell proposed to her husband over Twitter: ”.@daxshepard1 will you marry me? Xo #marriageequality #loveislove,” she wrote to her fiance Dax Shepard.

His reply, also via Twitter, “DOMA is dead. Prop 8 is dead. Now let’s bring my big, gay marriage to @IMKristenBell to Life!!!!”

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Both strong advocates for marriage equality, the couple made many public statements saying they would not marry until same-sex couples had the right to do the same. Pitt also donated $100,000 last fall to Human Rights Campaign’s National Marriage Fund to help garner support at the polls in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington for marriage equality. Neither Pitt nor Jolie had released a statement at the time this story was published.

Neil Patrick Harris

Harris, who is openly gay, supported marriage equality and tweeted soon after the Supreme Court released its decision.

“And Prop 8 was dismissed?!? Huzzah! Christmas comes six months early this year! (Less one day…),” Harris said.

Lady Gaga

The pop star has stood with her little monsters both gay and straight, donating a percentage of her concert proceeds to LBGT advocacy groups.

Gaga was quick to tweet after the decision Wednesday morning.

“We stand tall today.#DomaStruckDown So many fought for so long. Be proud, the prejudice are now the minority. pic.twitter.com/teni7GREDY,” she said.

Ellen Degeneres

The television hostess and openly lesbian star has advocated for marriage equality for years. She tweeted Wednesday morning, “It’s a supremely wonderful day for equality. Prop 8 is over, and so is DOMA. Congratulations everyone. And I mean everyone.”

Her tweet followed her retweet of President Barack Obama’s message who in the message heard around the Internet said, “Today’s DOMA ruling is a historic step forward for #MarriageEquality. #LoveIsLove.”

[For the record, 12:45 p.m. June 26: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said that the Defense of Marriage (DOMA) was deemed unconstitutional. Although the Supreme Court struck down a key part of DOMA, the decision left in place another provision in the law that says no state is required to recognize gay marriages performed in any other state; that provision was not under challenge.]

ALSO:

Prop. 8: Gay marriages to resume in California

L.A. County will not immediately issue same-sex marriage licenses

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