In a ruling that could send the question of marriage equality to the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal appeals court in Boston ruled on Thursday that the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, unconstitutionally denies federal benefits to lawfully married same-sex couples.

The Obama administration announced last year that it would no longer ask the Department of Justice to defend the 1996 law, claiming that the law was unconstitutional. Obama said this month that he believes same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, the first time a U.S. president publicly expressed support for marriage equality.

Eight states currently allow same-sex marriage.