Supreme Court Invalidates Discrimination Against Gay Marriage
June 27, 2013
Contact:
Paloma Zuleta, 202-833-6130, PZuleta (at) LULAC . org
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two landmark decisions related to gay rights. The U.S. Supreme Court declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and held that Proposition 8 lacked the necessary legal standing in order for the court to issue a decision.
In a 5-4 decision with Justice Anthony Kennedy writing for the majority, the Court struck down the central provision of DOMA declaring that it violated the Equal Protections Clause and was therefore unconstitutional. As a consequence, the federal government will recognize same sex- marriages that are currently recognized in 12 states including the District of Columbia. There are more than 1,100 different forms of federal benefits currently enjoyed by heterosexual couples. Today’s ruling expands those same benefits to same-sex marriages.
The U.S. Supreme Court decision with regard to California’s Proposition 8 means that gay marriage will once again be legal in California. The Supreme Court declined to decide whether the Constitution prohibited same-sex marriages.
“Striking down the Defense of Marriage Act is a real victory for same-sex couples across the country and their families who were discriminated against solely due to their sexual orientation,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “As a civil rights organization we have a moral obligation to fight for the equal rights of all Americans including those in the LGBT community. Today, we celebrate this victory along with the LGBT community and are determined to maintain the momentum from today’s decision in order to ensure marriage equality is recognized across the nation.”
Today’s rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court is one more positive step towards LGBT acceptance nation wide. The co-branded report released by LULAC and the Human Rights Campaign last week found that one in four high-school age lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth feel they have no one to talk to and fear their families will not accept them.
About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org
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