The Feminist Majority Foundation is proud of the Supreme Court today for striking down the constitutionality of DOMA’s Article 3 and dismissing a case to uphold Proposition 8 in California. It’s a huge victory for gay marriage advocates, LGBT rights activists, and the feminist movement.
The FMF’s official release on the occasion made note that there’s more work to be done and more victories to be won for LGBT people in America:
Feminists nationwide are celebrating two Supreme Court decisions to uphold marriage equality for same-sex couples. In a narrow 5-4 decision the Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) with Justice Kennedy writing the decision with Justice Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan for the majority. Justice Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Chief Justice Roberts dissented.
And in a slim 5-4 decision, the Court ruled opponents to equal marriage did not have standing in the case to uphold Proposition 8 with Roberts, Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan, and Scalia in the majority.
“At last Prop 8 and DOMA are finished,” said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation. “Marriage equality lives in California, the biggest state in the nation. And the federal government must recognize marriage equality in 13 states and the District of Columbia, covering 30% of the nation’s population. There is still work to do, but victory is in sight. On the 10th anniversary of Lawrence v. Texas, the Court takes another major step towards equality.”
On the FMF blog, we tracked the activity of the day.
The LGBT community has achieved a huge victory. It was worth waiting and holding dear to the hope that the U.S. Supreme Court would stand on the right side of history and support equality for LGBT couples. It is difficult to wrap our heads around the fact that a nation that has seen it all is still debating, politically and socially, whether to grant or deny rights and express acceptance for our brothers and sisters. The decision to respect and celebrate same-sex relationships isn’t about religion or cultural values. It would be hypocritical to say “everyone deserves to be in love and happy, well, except if you’re gay.”
Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decisions today, the LGBT community and their allies have made their mark on this nation’s history. After this morning, let’s hope that this debate will be just that, history.
Downtown in DC, our interns even got to be part of the action on the SCOTUS steps!
