In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered that states must allow gays to marry. This is a great victory for gay groups.
The decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, expands gay marriage beyond the 37 states that had already OKayed gay marriage to all 50.
The Supreme Court on Friday delivered an historic victory for gay rights, ruling 5-4 that the Constitution requires that same-sex couples be allowed to marry no matter where they live and that states may no longer reserve the right only for heterosexual couples.
The court’s action marks the culmination of an unprecedented upheaval in public opinion and the nation’s jurisprudence. Advocates called it the most pressing civil rights issue of modern times, while critics said the courts had sent the country into uncharted territory by changing the traditional definition of marriage.
“The court now holds that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry. No longer may this liberty be denied to them,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion.
(Click HERE for the text of the decision)
In one passage of the dissent, though, Chief Justice John Roberts insisted that the “right” to gay marriage isn’t found in the Constitution.
“If you are among the many Americans–of whatever sexual orientation–who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not Celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it”
So, there you have it, folks. Thousands of years of tradition ended with one decision. Marriage is officially dead and meaningless.
This decision will also necessarily END religious liberty in the USA.