{mosads}The Supreme Court will soon hear a pair of cases challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, and California’s law banning same-sex marriages. A ruling is expected by June, and gay rights activists hope that a favorable decision could pave the way for gay marriages nationwide.

In an interview that aired Wednesday morning, President Obama said he did not believe laws banning gay marriage would “stand up to constitutional muster.”

“My hope is that the Court looks at the evidence and — in the California case, for example, the only reason presented for treating gays and lesbians differently was, ‘Well, they’re gay and lesbian.’ There wasn’t a real rationale beyond that,” Obama told ABC News.