Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage

By BETH DALBEY (Patch Staff)

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in all 50 states.

The watershed ruling resolves the legal issues surrounding one of the most contentious civil rights issues of modern times, finally ending a decades-long battle for marriage equality fought in state legislatures, courts and at the ballot box.

Connecticut became the third state to institute gay marriage after a 2008 state court decision. The court ruled that civil unions didn’t provide the same rights and privileges as marriage.

“Today’s decision marks a historic moment in U.S. history and reaffirms everything that this great nation stands for – equality, liberty, and justice for all,” said Gov. Dannel Malloy in a statement. “It’s a day that Americans across our state and country can celebrate. While the State of Connecticut has recognized marriage for same-sex couples since 2008, today’s ruling means that our residents cannot lose their marriage rights while traveling from state to state.”

Greenwich Selectman Drew Marzullo, who is gay, said, “The Supreme Court in today’s historic decision upheld equality of LBGT individuals everywhere. After 25 years of legal challenges the high court said in no uncertain terms that who you love, who you want to spend your life with will no longer be looked at as something wrong.” Marzullo, who married his partner of 22 years in a ceremony last year, added, “History will show that Justice Kennedy and his beautifully written majority opinion got it so right. And when you read the part about family and what this really means to our children I can’t help but smile and at the same time tear up. I also smile thinking about Justice Scalia having a complete meltdown at this point. It’s a different type of smile though.“

State Attorney General George Jepsen applauded the court decision.

“This decision is also an important vindication for couples in Connecticut whose marriages were previously denied recognition and respect in all states,” Jepsen said. “Indeed, every American benefits by today’s reaffirmation and extension of our national commitment to equality and human dignity – principles at the very heart of our constitutional system of government.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4) called the decision a “huge victory.” Himes said, “This is a monumental and historic day. I am deeply moved by the millions of men and women who have campaigned tirelessly to change hearts and minds across the country, and grateful that the Supreme Court has recognized that the right to love and marry is fundamental. The fight for equality and against discrimination is never over, but today’s decision is a huge victory.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said, “Who you are, who you love, and what you feel should never be reasons for discrimination. Though we have a long way to go, the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality this morning takes a giant stride toward eliminating such prejudices across all institutions in America.” Murphy added, “I’m thrilled that the justices ruled in favor of common sense and equality, and I stand with them in my unwavering support for the LGBT community.”

Author Judy Blume tweeted that she would be celebrating the decision in Madison at RJ Julia Booksellers.

The case before the justices – Obergefell v. Hodges, a consolidation of cases in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee – pitted states’ rights against individuals’ right to marry, and traditional marriage against more modern iterations of the union.

Today’s ruling comes during a time of historic support for same-sex-marriage. American’s attitudes have shifted swiftly and dramatically in the last decade, according to public opinion polls. Only 27 percent of Americans thought gay marriage should be legal when the Gallup Poll began posing the question in 1996; last month, support had soared to 60 percent, up from 55 percent just a year ago.

The justices addressed two key questions: whether gay marriage bans – currently in place in 13 states – are constitutional, and whether states can refuse to recognize marriages performed outside their borders.

The justices agreed in January to hear the case. A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court dealt gay marriage advocates their first federal appeals court defeat last fall, upholding the bans in the four states and setting the stage for the Supreme Court showdown.

The cases involved 12 couples and two widowers. The cases are:

Michigan: On March 21, 2014, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman ruled against Michigan’s voter-backed ban on same-sex marriage in DeBoer V. Snyder. The case was filed by a lesbian couple who wanted to jointly adopt children, but were prohibited from doing so by the 2004 voter-backed ban on same-sex marriage.

Kentucky: On July 1, 2014, U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn III ruled in Love v. Beshear against a provision forbidding the commonwealth from performing same-sex marriages. That ruling followed a Feb. 12 ruling in Bourke v. Besher that said the Commonwealth could not refuse to recognize valid same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Ohio: Two Ohio cases were consolidated in the appeal before the 6th Circuit. On Dec. 23, 2013, U.S. District Judge Timothy Black ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that Ohio’s refusal to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another jurisdiction was unconstitutional. The case was filed on behalf of Jim Obergefell and John Arthur, who wanted their Maryland marriage to be recognized on Arthur’s death certificate before he died. The court ordered the state to recognize the marriage when Arthur died in October 2013.

Tennessee: On March 14, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ordered Tennessee officials to recognize three same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. The ruling was later stayed by the 6th Circuit.

Additional reporting by Rich Scinto and Barbara Heins.