Group asks high court to hear CT gay marriage case

BOSTON (AP) — A Boston-based legal group has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Connecticut lawsuit challenging a key portion of a federal law that denies tax, health and other benefits to married gay couples.

A federal judge in Connecticut ruled last month that the provision in the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. The ruling came in the case of six married gay couples and a widower from Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont who sued after being denied federal benefits.

Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders filed a petition Wednesday asking the Supreme Court to review the ruling.

A Congressional group and the U.S. Justice Department have asked the high court to review a Massachusetts ruling that also struck down the same provision of the law.

Copyright Associated Press, Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.