@KKmama, wow, what a touching story. 
Great decision! Happy for my gay friends, one of whom turned 50 today. Excellent birthday present.
Technical question for attorney posters. Does this decision provide the remedy for Obergefell of forcing Ohio to issue a new death certificate for his husband, Jim Arthur listing him as spouse?
I’m not sure this is political. No one is debating, just rejoicing.
If this is political then there is another on the front page which also is and that one is about hate and not love. But it seems like news stories are allowed, even when political, as long as there’s no debating or whatever.
Justice Kennedy’s opinion can be read in full here:
I love the fervor with which my own kids and their college aged friends are rejoicing today, no matter what their personal sexual preferences or political leanings are. I hear so much maligning of our kids’ generation that I just don’t understand. I LOVE these young people. They through off the shackles of convention in so many positive ways and I truly feel that with their collective focus, uniqueness and commitment, the future of our country and our planet is in good hands.
6-3, 5-4!
I was in a very GOP mall when I heard the news. It’s wonderful!
This should be old news soon enough, although I worry about repercussions
This was the right decision but I am distressed that it was not unanimous.
Maybe the times are not analogous but I think to the Brown vs Board of Education case, where Chief Justice Earl Warren was committed to securing a unanimous ruling because he and his allies on the court believed that a unaminous ruling would be the best for the country. I understand that even the segregationists’ lawyer John Davis felt that way, too. But I’ll take 5-4, obviously.
That being said, Mr. Justice Thomas’ dissent contains some horrendous reasoning. It is clear to me (no, I can’t read minds) that the man has been embittered for a long time. And Scalia has always thought that he is the smartest guy in the room, even when standing next to a bust of Einstein. Scalia’s shorthand dissent the other day was not befitting a Supreme Court justice.
@2VU0609 , I would think so. The lower decision that was reversed was based on OH’s refusal to recognize the validity of Jim Obergefell and John Arthur’s marriage, which had been performed in MD.
In the past 24 hours, SCOTUS has been like balm for the soul. So proud to be an American today. 2015 is turning out to be a really good year.
Thanks, AttorneyMother. I thought that would be the case, but of course the focus today is on everyone else’s rights going forward.
Maybe with writings like this it is good that Justice Thomas doesn’t speak much.
I visit my parents weekly and the inevitable question is: “WHEN is our granddaughter getting married” I have now decided that I will ask them weekly: WHEN is your son getting married? . After all its my 62 year old gay brothers turn in the rotation.
(And I was happy to call his partner this morning and ask him if he was FINALLY going to make my brother an honest man.)
I’m thrilled with the outcome.
I just want to add – I think the lawyer who found plaintiffs who were married but denied the right to have their names on their spouses death certificate is absolutely brilliant. That one vignette encapsulates so much of the indignity of being married in one state and not having your marriage recognized in another. I say this with no cynicism whatsoever – I really admire the strategic thinking of the lawyers who developed those cases.
And I admire the plaintiffs who agreed to undergo the grueling litigation process to secure these rights not just for themselves but for all other Americans affected by these laws.
@musicamusica :). One of my friends posted on facebook that she could finally marry her girlfriend. Grandma (in her 80s) commented “Congratulations! NOW can I get great grandbabies?!”
I don’t think this has to be a political issue. I am not a supporter of either political party (for different reasons for each), and I think this is fantastic news! People should be able to marry the person they love. To me, that’s what it comes down to.
I personally don’t agree with gay marriage and believe it’s wrong. I do, however, support the right of choice and am glad this court ruled the way it did.
The 4 dissenting votes are disappointing. But in a strange twist of fate, it seems good that this exciting decision by the Supreme court is causing Bristol Palin, the "ambassador for abstinence’'s news that she is again pregnant out of wedlock, to be buried on page 10 somewhere.
I agree @nottelling - The first case was the same involving the “death tax” as it is often called. They were able to highlight some of those real fairness issues that are easier to get behind for some people and keep the arguments out of the bedroom (at least in theory).
I beyond happy with today’s news and proud to be an American today. I’m all for expanding the right to marry, but I’m also totally onboard with the increasing trend to forgo marriage all together and, yes, having children out of wedlock.