House Republicans have appealed two Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA) cases to the Supreme Court, lawyers confirmed Friday.

The move follows last month’s federal appeals court ruling that the act – which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman – is unconstitutional.

House Republicans have allotted themselves a $1.5 million budget to defend DOMA in the highest court in the land.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has slammed the move, saying the Democrats stand firmly against this latest “assault on equal rights”.

The move is a waste of taxpayer funds and an attempt “to defend discrimination and inequality”, she says.

“We believe there is no federal interest in denying GLBT couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to all couples married under state law. We are confident that the Supreme Court, if it considers the case, will declare DOMA unconstitutional and relegate it to the dustbin of history once and for all.”