A New York federal appeals court has become the sixth nationwide to strike down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex couples. On Thursday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said DOMA, as it is known, violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. The case was brought by prominent lesbian activist Edith Windsor of New York, who was forced to pay more than $350,000 in estate taxes because her marriage was not recognized under federal law. Five other federal appeals courts have previously deemed the law unconstitutional. Despite also opposing the law, the Obama administration has continued enforcing it pending a final ruling that it has requested from the Supreme Court.