“The Constitution grants them that right.”

In a 5 – 4 ruling handed down today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage making it the law of the land.

In hearing the case, the court had two questions to answer:

Does the 14th Amendment require states to license a marriage between two people of the same sex?

Does the 14th Amendment require a state to recognize legally valid same-sex marriages performed elsewhere?

In both instances, the court answered “yes.” Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Anthony Kennedy voted in the majority.

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

-Justice Anthony Kennedy (majority opinion)

President Obama reacted to the court’s decision.

Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins

— President Obama (@POTUS44) June 26, 2015

…and again later from the White House Rose Garden:

“Progress on this journey often comes in small increments, sometimes two steps forward, one step back, propelled by the persistent effort of dedicated citizens. And then sometimes, there are days like this, when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt.”

– President Barack Obama

Jim Obergefell, whose marriage with his husband John was at the heart of the Ohio case before the court, released this statement:

“Today I could not be prouder of my country, more grateful for the memory of my late husband John, and more indebted to the incredible lawyers, advocates and fellow plaintiffs who made this landmark day possible. The fact that the state I have long called home will finally recognize my marriage to the man I honored and cherished for more than 20 years is a profound vindication—a victory I’m proud to share with countless more couples across the country.Thanks to the Supreme Court, a period of deep injustice in this nation is coming to a close, but it’s also clear today that there is still so much work to do. As long as discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is tolerated—whether in the seeking of a marriage license, the pursuit of fairness on the job, or the fight for equal treatment at a restaurant or business—we haven’t truly guaranteed equal justice under the law.

But today’s victory proves that anything is possible, and I could not be more hopeful about the capacity of this country to change for the better.”

Regarding the states that do have same-sex marriage bans in place, those will go by the wayside. The constitution trumps those bans.

(jj)

[symple_button url=”http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf” color=”blue” button_target=”_blank”]Supreme Court opinion[/symple_button]

BROUGHT TO YOU BY