WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear gay marriage cases from five states, effectively opening the door to same-sex weddings in those states and putting off a nationwide decision on the hot-button issue.

The court opted not to take up cases from five states - Indiana, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Oklahoma - in which bans on same-sex marriage were deemed unconstitutional. Marriages in those states were on hold pending the high court's decision on whether to hear the cases.