Supreme Court Recognizes Reality, Marriage Equality Lives

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.”

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