The US Supreme Court is to consider whether to strike down a law denying federal benefits to same-sex couples, a day after weighing a gay marriage ban.
The Defense of Marriage Act denies gay couples access to federal benefits under its definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman only.
On Tuesday California's Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage, was scrutinised by the nine justices, reports the BBC.
A ruling in both cases is expected before the end of June.
The Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, has already been overturned by four federal courts and two courts of appeal