ACLU-NJ Exec. Director: SCOTUS Same-Sex Marriage Decision 'Momentous'

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A much-anticipated ruling from .

The US Supreme Court.

The landmark decision establish a same-sex marriage.

As a national civil right and divided court ruled that equal protections guaranteed under the Constitution's 14th amendment.

Mean states cannot bennett for advocates of marriage equality it's a major victory.

In his dissenting opinion Chief Justice John Roberts wrote by all means celebrate today's decision celebrate.

The achievement of desired goal celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner.

Celebrate the availability of new benefits men do not celebrate the Constitution it has nothing to do with it unquote and justice antonin scalia called it quote a threat to our democracy. right now in Maplewood North Jersey pride is hosting a celebration ACLU executive director audio for is fair hi cutie thank you for being here thank you for having me.

What reaction to being hearing today about the supreme court's ruling while people are joists and they're just elated and they're happy.

And you know we all we're all feeling pretty confident coming to today.

I kno Inc love will prevail and that marriage equality will become the law of the land in all 50 states.

I but it's but it's still well it's still hard to believe because we've been fighting for this for so long.

You know the ACLU brought the first marriage equality case in 1971 I we lost before the Supreme Court in 1972 so this has been more than forty years in the making and and everyone is incredibly joyous at the same time I should also say you know what today's decision.

I'm showed a lot can prevail over hate.

We also have a bit of a sad hard today and add you know there's a funeral.

For senator pinkney in Charleston South Carolina in an example that way a trade prevailed over lob so while we're celebrating today's match a quality decision we also know that the fight not only proud to BT quality operational a quality is still a long one before us same-sex marriage is now legal in 36 states that covers about seventy percent of the entire population so what is the practical.

Impacted this decision right while most practically means that in the 14 states that have not are provided marriage equality that a lot has changed.

Beginning today and in fact we already know last I checked while.

On the 14 states have already started 20 I.

Officiating sex marriages two states are still holding out I Louisiana Mississippi but we believe it's just a matter of hours if not days for that to comply with the law.

But at a symbolic level I today's decision is gonna go down in the history books on the same level.

As loving you be purging ya which struck down a ban on interracial marriage eighth and even brought the Board of Education it it's a it's a momentous decision.

That makes this nation more equalling more free the Supreme Court majority decision called it a fundamental right and the president called in and basic civil right what's the significance and putting an in that frame yeah so the significant the bad is that today's decision was more than just a bad marriage I am Wiley did say that marriage was a fundamental right it also said that it cannot be denied based on sexual orientation.

And what that means is that LGBT Americans LGBT residents out to be teenagers the ames now have the full protection of the law I'm in the same way that all other residents had I'm so so it today's decision was about marriage equality but more importantly.

It was a decision about human dignity with a decision about equality.

And it was a decision dad that said that all.

People regardless of sexual orientation must be treated equally under the law the US Supreme Court declined to comment on a similar case back in 2013.

What do you think motivated and venture were all on this issue this time yeah right well remember 2030 declined to rule on marriage equality but it did role in that Defense of Marriage Act which with an ACLU case and struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and the day that that happened which was exactly two years ago on June 26 2013 we know that our marriage was was just around the corner and I'm happy I don't know if you remember by New Jersey actually became the first state after the DOMA decision to make marriage equality the lobbyist a and six then there but about 50 court rulings 50 court rulings in the last two years in favor of marriage equality.

Okay the supreme court within ready at in 2013.

But today clearly why thank you to: her.

Am.

Home.





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