Page 8 - MIN SOC 27 JUNI 2015
P. 8
U.S. NEWS A5
Saturday 27 June 2015
BOURBON TASTING
Supreme Court declares US-wide right to same-sex marriage
MARK SHERMAN court in Massachusetts le- The crowd celebrates outside of the Supreme Court in Washing- Roberts read a summary of
Associated Press galizing same-sex marriage ton, Friday June 26, 2015, after the court declared that same-sex his dissent from the bench,
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gay there, prompting several couples have a right to marry anywhere in the US. the first time he has done
and lesbian Americans states to ban it and galva- so in nearly 10 years as
have the same right to nizing conservative voter (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) chief justice.
marry as any other cou- turnout during George W. Justice Antonin Scalia said
ples, theU.S. Supreme Bush’s re-election cam- called it “justice that arrives cuiting a national debate he was not concerned so
Court declared Friday in a paign. Just over a decade like a thunderbolt.” about same-sex marriage. much about same-sex mar-
historic ruling deciding one later, Justice Anthony Ken- Four of the court’s justices “This court is not a legis- riage as “this court’s threat
of America’s most conten- nedy’s majority opinion weren’t cheering. The dis- lature. Whether same-sex to American democracy.”
tious and emotional legal was clear and firm: “The senters accused their col- marriage is a good idea He termed the decision a
questions. Celebrations court now holds that same- leagues of usurping power should be of no concern “judicial putsch.”
and joyful weddings quick- sex couples may exercise that belongs to the states to us,” Chief Justice John Several religious organiza-
ly followed states where the fundamental right to and to voters, and short-cir- Roberts wrote in dissent. tions criticized the decision
they had been forbidden. marry. No longer may this and a group of pastors in
The vote was narrow — 5-4 liberty be denied to them.” Texas vowed to defy it.
— but the ruling will put an Kennedy’s reading of the Kennedy said nothing in
end to same-sex marriage ruling elicited tears in the the court’s ruling would
bans in the 14 states that courtroom, euphoria out- force religions to condone,
still maintain them, and pro- side and the immediate is- much less perform, wed-
vide an exclamation point suance of marriage licens- dings to which they object.
for breathtaking changes es to same-sex couples in And he said the couples
in America’s social norms in county offices in Georgia seeking the right to marry
recent years. As recently as and Texas. In Dallas, Ken- should not have to wait for
last October, just over one- neth Denson said he and the political branches of
third of the states permitted Gabriel Mendez had been government to act.
gay marriages. legally married in 2013 in “The dynamic of our con-
Public acceptance has California but “we’re Tex- stitutional system is that in-
also shot up in recent years, ans; we want to get mar- dividuals need not await
in stark contrast to the ried in Texas.” legislative action before
widespread outcry against In praise of the decision, asserting a fundamental
a 2004 ruling by the high President Barack Obama right. q
Gay US couples wed on historic day as conservatives resist
C. GALOFARO “It’s just been incredible couples. Allen said Ala- lican Gov. Bobby Jindal is In Arkansas, Pulaski County
K. CHANDLER and historic and amazing bama law gives judges the running for the White House Clerk Larry Crane held a
Associated Press to live this moment,” Moore option of granting licenses, as a conservative Christian, hand to his heart after the
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP) said, after the mayor took and “I have chosen not to same-sex couples were Supreme Court’s ruling.
— Benjamin Moore and commemorative photos perform that function.” turned away. “It is a special day,” he said,
Tadd Roberts wore match- of him and Roberts getting Governors in Louisiana, In Texas, many counties choking up. “I’m honored
ing tuxedos to the county their license. Mississippi and Texas also held off on issuing same-sex to be a part of it.”
clerk’s office in Louisville to But the reaction wasn’t as railed against the ruling. marriage licenses until re- Jessica Dent and Carolee
get married Friday, and the welcoming in some of the And clerks in some of the ceiving guidance from Re- Taylor got married a few
mayor greeted them with a 14 states that had been the affected states refused publican Attorney General blocks from the courthouse
bottle of champagne. last holdouts against same- to issue licenses, citing a Ken Paxton, in Montgomery, Alabama.
They were among a rush of sex marriages, creating three-week grace period who scolded the Supreme “Never thought it would
gay couples across Ameri- confusion as some officials allowed by the Supreme Court but left counties in happen in our lifetime,”
ca who celebrated the Su- embraced the ruling and Court or forms now out of limbo for hours. The de- said Taylor.
preme Court’s ruling legaliz- others resisted it. date that specify “bride” lay dragged on for hours After their ceremony, they
ing same-sex marriage with In rural Alabama, the heart and “groom.” in Houston, until the clerk returned to the courthouse
spontaneous weddings. of the battle against gay But by Friday afternoon, relented and agreed not to file their license, making
They were young and old, marriage, Pike County Pro- couples had received li- to wait for updated forms them officially married in
they wore gowns and suits bate Judge Wes Allen said censes in all but one of the from the state. the conservative state that
or T-shirts and jeans, they he would stop issuing all 14 states, according to the Other clerks scrambled to had fought back against
kissed and waved flags marriage licenses to avoid Human Rights Campaign. issue licenses as gay cou- efforts to legalize gay
that read “love wins.” having to give them to gay In Louisiana, where Repub- ples rushed to their offices. marriage.q
