NEW : Gay rights ' backers laud the ruling ; a conservative leader says it is `` judicial activism '' Massachusetts , Connecticut , Iowa , Vermont , New Hampshire , New York and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples . A U.S. appeals court rules the federal law defining marriage is unconstitutional . The decision was issued by an 11-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco on Friday, and will be heard next week at the Supreme Court. `` What I 'm feeling is elated , '' says the 83-year-old lesbian at the center of the case .
NEW : Gay rights ' backers laud the ruling ; a conservative leader says it is `` judicial activism '' A U.S. appeals court rules the federal law defining marriage is unconstitutional . The decision was issued by an 11-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco on Friday, and will be heard next week at the Supreme Court. `` What I 'm feeling is elated , '' says the 83-year-old lesbian at the center of the case .