Long-Sought Victory for the Equal Rights Movement Achieved Today in Historic Supreme Court Decision

June 26, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, LULAC National Executive Director, Brent Wilkes, issued the following statement in response to the 5-4 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which affirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry in all fifty states.

“In today’s landmark decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court held that same-sex marriage is a right protected under the U.S. Constitution. LULAC celebrates this long-sought victory with our brothers and sisters from the civil rights and LGBT community as well as religious leaders who have been calling for marriage equality for a generation. As part of the changing tide of public opinion regarding marriage equality in this country, 52% of Latinos now favor same sex marriage.

As an organization committed to justice and equality for all, LULAC knows that the road to full equality is long and arduous, and obstacles still remain for the LGBT community. In particular, we will continue to fight to ensure that LGBT Latinos have equal access to the American Dream, especially those caught up in legal limbo due to their immigration status or held up in detention.

The fight is not over, but this win reinvigorates LULAC's commitment to fight for anti-discrimination legislation so that full equality can be enjoyed by all Americans.”