Rep. Peter Welch issued the below statement following the announcement that the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Proposition 8.

"At long last, the Supreme Court will give marriage equality its day in court. As Vermont affirmed before any other state, the quality of love two people share is more important than their gender. Discriminatory laws like DOMA and Proposition 8 are unconstitutional. The Supreme Court should follow Vermont's lead and settle this issue once and for all."