The federal government will extend benefits to same-sex married couples in six new states, the Justice Department announced Saturday.
The announcement follows the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear pending cases related to same-sex marriage earlier this month.
As a result, same-sex married couples in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming will qualify for a range of federal benefits, including Social Security.
“With each new state where same-sex marriages are legally recognized, our nation moves closer to achieving of full equality for all Americans,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement released with the Justice Department’s announcement.
“We are acting as quickly as possible with agencies throughout the government to ensure that same-sex married couples in these states receive the fullest array of benefits allowable under federal law,” Holder said.
Saturday’s announcement means that there are now 32 states in which the federal government recognizes same-sex couples, plus the District of Columbia.
Holder also said Saturday that the federal government would recognize same-sex marriages performed in Indiana and Wisconsin in June before court action cast doubt on the legal status of subsequent ceremonies.
In comments published this week, President Obama said that he believes that the Constitution requires states to recognize same-sex marriages, a position his administration has not taken previously.
“Ultimately, I think the Equal Protection Clause does guarantee same-sex marriage in all fifty states,” the president told the New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin. “But, as you know, courts have always been strategic,” he added.
Obama had opposed same-sex marriage until before the 2012 election.
