U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage in all 50 states
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling giving gay people the right to marry in all 50 states is vindication of the belief that "ordinary people can do extraordinary things" and has "made our union a little more perfect," President Barack Obama said Friday.
The court ruled that allowing states to deny gay people the right to marry is a violation of the 14th Amendment.
In a 5-4 decision released Friday, the court ruled that the amendment obliges states to license marriages between people of the same sex and to recognize marriages lawfully performed outside of state. Thirty-seven of the 50 states and the District of Columbia already allow gay marriage, and Friday's ruling means the others will have to follow suit.
The ruling only affects state laws. Religious institutions can still choose whether or not to marry same-sex couples.
"When all Americans are treated equal, we are all more free," he said from the White House Rose Garden.Obama called the decision "a victory for America" and said it "affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts."
He praised the perseverance of those who have fought for gay rights and marriage equality for decades "and slowly made an entire country realize that love is love."
Outside of the court in Washington, D.C., gay couples and gay rights supporters erupted in cheers, whoops and cries of U-S-A!" and "Love is love" when the ruling came down."Change must have seemed so slow for so long," Obama said. "But compared to so many other issues, America's shift has been so quick."
"I'm simply elated," said Kenneth Barnes, waving a rainbow flag he's had for more than 20 years. "I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime,"
Barnes and his partner married in California in 2008. "Now, everyone can do this," he said.
Many same-sex couples living in states where gay marriage had been banned headed immediately to county clerks' offices to get marriage licences as state officials issued statements saying they would respect the ruling. Technically, the losing side has three weeks to ask for reconsideration of the ruling, but many state officials and county clerks started issuing marriage licences right away.
Some waived the usual waiting period between getting a licence and the marriage ceremony.
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Structure of the Lead： WHO- The U.S. Supreme Court
WHEN-Jun 28, 2015
WHAT-
WHEN-Jun 28, 2015
WHAT-
WHY- (Not said)
WHERE-
Key words:
1. vindication (n.) 表白,平反
2. affirm (v.) 肯定,確任
WHERE-
I think it is a good beginning for those countries which haven't set a law on this controversial problem. Being the stong state, the U.S. has passed the law faster than any other countries in the world. The same-sex marriage is not criminal and those same-sex couples shouldn't be arrested and judge them for death penalty.
回覆刪除I think each person has his/her right to choose who he/she wants to get along forever.
回覆刪除No matter which gender he/she is ,they all are equal. And the law of the same-sex marriage is a trend around the world. Maybe in the future , Taiwan will also pass the law and half countries of the world will follow this trend , too. After all , everyone is equal.