.Thursday Must Read: Obama Declares Anti-Gay-Marriage Law Unconstitutional; Snow Could Hit Bay Area Tonight

Stories you shouldn’t miss:

1. In a major victory for gay rights, the Obama Administration reversed its position yesterday on the federal anti-gay-marriage law, calling it unconstitutional. Attorney General Eric Holder said the administration would no longer defend the law in court, adding that it would be up to members of Congress to do so. Obama has opposed the anti-gay-marriage law but has said that his administration was obliged to defend it. The White House said that the president’s position on gay marriage is evolving. Obama’s announcement also could prove problematic for Republicans, because some libertarian Tea Party members support equal rights for gays.

2. The administration’s announcement also could boost the effort to overturn Prop 8, California’s anti-gay-marriage law, the Chron reports. Attorney Ted Olson, who represents gay couples attempting to overturn Prop 8 in federal court, immediately seized on the Obama’s administration’s announcement, noting that the Justice Department had concluded that the federal law, which is similar to California’s, cannot survive the constitution’s “heightened scrutiny” standard.

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