Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, undone
Washington, DC -
The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act that bans federal recognition of same-sex marriage.
According to SCOTUS blog, the court ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.
"DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled to recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty," the court's 5-4 majority opinion reads.
The court also dismissed a challenge to Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, on the grounds that supporters of the measure lacked standing to bring their appeal of a district court ruling declaring the measure unconstitutional.
The Prop. 8 ruling means same-sex marriage will likely resume in California, but the decision won't bring marriage equality to other states.
"This is one of the most important days in the history of our movement for LGBT civil rights," said Rick Garcia, Policy Director and Director of the Equal Marriage Illinois Project for The Civil Rights Agenda, Illinois' largest LGBT civil rights organization. "Although we are thrilled with the ruling, we are painfully cognizant that in Illinois same-gender couples still cannot be married and we must change that immediately. The Illinois House of Representatives must act as soon as possible."
The Chicago LGBT community will gather at 7 p.m. at the corner of Halsted and Roscoe Streets in the heart of the City's gay entertainment district for a Day of Decision rally. The event will begin with a short rally, followed by a march, and is sponsored by the Gay Liberation Network. For more information on Day of Decision rallies in other cities, visit www.dayofdecision.org.
Read the full text of the DOMA decision (PDF)
Read the full text of Hollingsworth v. Perry - Prop. 8 (PDF)
The Associated Press posted this video to their YouTube depicting the scene outside the Supreme Court when the the ruling against DOMA came down.
This story is breaking, follow ChicagoPride.com and the GoPride.com Network on Twitter for Updates.
According to SCOTUS blog, the court ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.
"DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled to recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty," the court's 5-4 majority opinion reads.
The court also dismissed a challenge to Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, on the grounds that supporters of the measure lacked standing to bring their appeal of a district court ruling declaring the measure unconstitutional.
The Prop. 8 ruling means same-sex marriage will likely resume in California, but the decision won't bring marriage equality to other states.
"This is one of the most important days in the history of our movement for LGBT civil rights," said Rick Garcia, Policy Director and Director of the Equal Marriage Illinois Project for The Civil Rights Agenda, Illinois' largest LGBT civil rights organization. "Although we are thrilled with the ruling, we are painfully cognizant that in Illinois same-gender couples still cannot be married and we must change that immediately. The Illinois House of Representatives must act as soon as possible."
The Chicago LGBT community will gather at 7 p.m. at the corner of Halsted and Roscoe Streets in the heart of the City's gay entertainment district for a Day of Decision rally. The event will begin with a short rally, followed by a march, and is sponsored by the Gay Liberation Network. For more information on Day of Decision rallies in other cities, visit www.dayofdecision.org.
Read the full text of the DOMA decision (PDF)
Read the full text of Hollingsworth v. Perry - Prop. 8 (PDF)
The Associated Press posted this video to their YouTube depicting the scene outside the Supreme Court when the the ruling against DOMA came down.
This story is breaking, follow ChicagoPride.com and the GoPride.com Network on Twitter for Updates.
