Mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen of the United States because June 26, 2015 is going to be a date to remember. This marks the day that the Supreme Court of the United States voted to allow same-sex marriage.
How neat is that?
Whether you agree with the decision or not, history is being made and I think it's incredibly cool (for lack of better word) that we all get to be witnesses to an event that will most likely be in future history books.
For those of you who like me woke up this morning to an alert or a tweet or some type of notification about this major change, and didn't have a clue about the major details, I am here to save you.
The decision was a 5-4 ruling. The Justices who ruled for it are as follows: Sotomayor, Ginsburg, Kagan, Breyer, and Kennedy (who wrote the explanation for the majority's decision).
"In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves."
The Justices who ruled against it are as follows: Roberts, Alito, Scalia, and Thomas. Each of them wrote their own dissent against the ruling. Roberts wrote that the decision of same-sex marriage should have been left to the states, not the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court should not interfere with the states' rights.
However, the debate will continue, Kennedy also wrote. Kennedy wrote that under the First Amendment, religious groups and people are protected if they want to teach principles that are important to their lives and faith. So if they want to continue debating and opposing same-sex marriage, they are definitely allowed to do so. The Constitution does not allow the State to bar same-sex marriages on the same terms of those opposed to it. (Basically, the church and the state shouldn't be combined).
President Obama was thrilled by the decision, stating that when all Americans were treated equally, "we are all more free."
The U.S. is now the 21st country to legalize same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples will now legally be recognized on legal documents such as birth and death certificates.
All in all, history has been made today and whether you agree with it or not that's your opinion. Everyone's opinion is valid, no one is right or wrong. We are all entitled to believe what we believe and think what we think. It's why our nation's founders created this beautiful country. So that everyone could believe in something and not be persecuted for it. I'm going to go sing the national anthem, because I believe that's the appropriate thing to do right now.