two people of the same sex and to recognize the marriage of a same -sex couple performed elsewhere. President Obama addressed the nation for about 15 minutes shortly after this Supreme Court decision. This morning the Supreme Court recognized that the Constitution guarantees marriage equality. In doing so, they've reaffirmed that all Americans are entitled to the equal protection of the law. This decision will end the patchwork system we currently have, it will end at the uncertainty hundreds of thousands of same -sex couples face from not knowing whether their marriage, legitimate in the eyes of one state will remain if they decide to move or even visit another. I know change for many of our LGBT brothers and sisters must have seemed so slow for so long, but compared to so many other issues, America's shift has been so quick, and those who have come so far on their journey to equality have a responsibility to reach back and help others join
them. Because for all our differences, we are one people stronger together than we could ever be alone. That's always been our story. We are big and vast, and diverse, a nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, different experiences and stories, but bound by our shared ideal that no matter who you are or what you look like, how you started off or how and who you love, America's a place where you can write your own destiny. Today, we can say in no uncertain terms that we've made our union a little more perfect. That's the consequence of a decision from the Supreme Court, but more importantly, it is a consequence of the countless small acts of courage, of millions of people across decades
who stood up, who came out, who talked to parents, parents who loved their children no matter what. Those countless, often anonymous heroes, they deserve our thanks. They should be very proud. America should be very proud. One of the victorious plaintiffs in the case, Jim Obergefell spoke outside the Supreme Court shortly after its historic decision. Obergefell filed suit. When the state of Ohio refused to allow his name to be listed on the death certificate of his husband, who died of ALS a few months after they were married on the tarmac of an airport in Maryland. I know in my heart that John is with me today. That man cared for and loved me for 21 years through thick and thin. Today's ruling from the Supreme Court affirms what millions across this country already know to be true in our hearts. Our love is
equal. It's my hope that the term gay marriage will soon be a thing of the past. That from this day forward, it will simply be marriage. And our nation will be better off because of it. At the same time, while we will celebrate today's victory, my heart is also in Charleston. These past few weeks and months have been an important reminder that discrimination in many forms is alive and well in America. It reminds us of the deeply unfortunate reality that progress for some is not progress for all. I'd like to thank John for loving me for making me a better man and for giving me something worth fighting for. I love you. This is for you, John. Before dissenting justices, each filed a separate opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts
read a summary of his dissent from the bench. The first time he has done so in nearly ten years as Chief Justice. Joining Roberts in dissent were justices Scalia Thomas in Alito. The alliance for defending freedom has defended businesses who refuse to serve same -sex couples. Their attorneys were outside the Supreme Court. Kelly Fioterick denounced the ruling. Today's decision is perhaps unprecedented in our nation's history. It rendered irrelevant and ignored the voices of thousands of Americans. Not only did it ignore the voices of Americans of children who deserve to know and to be raised by their mother and father and rendered those voices irrelevant. Tens of millions of Americans who have gone to the ballot box and said that marriage should be between a man and a woman at that has been for countless millennia. Because we know that the freedom to democratically address the most pressing issues of our day is the heart of liberty. And today five justices stole that freedom. Kelly
Fioterick an attorney with the alliance for defending freedom. I'm Mark Marical. Trailblazing attorney Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Mary told National Public Radio why his organization sought marriage equality through the courts. We don't put basic rights up to a vote in our country. That's why we have a constitution. That's why they're called rights, not votes. People don't vote on whether you have freedom of speech or whether someone else should have freedom of religion or whether I should have the freedom to marry. And what the court affirmed today is that the freedom to marry, which has been recognized as a constitutional guarantee in more than 14 cases over the years, cannot be denied to a group of Americans who happen to be gay. President Barack Obama phoned a plaintiff Jim
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Hawaii Court Decision Puts Marriage Equality in the National Spotlight (1996)
Same-Sex Couples Sue for Marriage Equality in Massachusetts (2003)
Massachusetts Ruling Shakes Up Marriage Equality Debate (2004)
Dueling Advocates Make Mainstream Appeals on Marriage Equality (2004)
Same-Sex Couples Sue for Marriage Rights in New Jersey (2004)
Political Mobilization Against Marriage Equality in the 2004 Election (2004)
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