The Early Word: Definition - NYTimes.com In Today's Times: Returning for a second day to the topic of same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court seemed poised to invalidate a central part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman, Adam Liptak reports. If the justices strike the provision, same-sex spouses in jurisdictions where their marriage is legal would start to receive federal benefits. The political momentum behind legalizing same-sex marriage could hinder its legal progress. Peter Baker writes that while the Supreme Court appears inclined to strike the federal definition of marriage, the justices might see the movement's progress as reason not to intervene further. Jeremy W. Peters describes the brief appearance outside the court of Edith Windsor, the 83-year-old plaintiff in the Defense of Marriage Act case. In the fight for same-sex couples to have the right to marry, Mary Bonauto has achieved a status akin to Thurgood Marshall's, the advocate for civil rights who went on to become a Supreme Court justice. Sheryl Stolberg profiles Ms. Bonauto, the top civil rights lawyer for Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, whose decade of legal work to advance same-sex marriage has won her praise from her supporters and critics alike. The Senate barber shop is about to feel the effects of budget cuts. Jeremy W. Peters writes that the shop, which has served senators since the 19th century and has survived the Civil War and Newt Gingrich, will be privatized over several years as the Senate sergeant-at-arms seeks to cut its losses. Happening in Washington: Economic reports expected Thursday include fourth-quarter gross domestic product and weekly jobless claims at 8:30 a.m., followed at 10 a.m. by weekly mortgage rates. President Obama will be surrounded by mothers, law enforcement officials and victims of gun violence when he delivers remarks Thursday urging Congress to act on legislation to protect children from gun violence. His remarks in the East Room begin at 11:40 a.m. Several sub-Saharan African leaders are in Washington for several days of events that include an honor cordon at 9:45 a.m. and a meeting with Mr. Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. at 2:10 p.m. The guests are President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Joyce Banda of Malawi and Prime Minister José Maria Pereira Neves of Cape Verde. The president and vice-president's schedule also includes meetings with Secretary of State John Kerry at 3:45 p.m. and Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew at 4:15 p.m.