As you might imagine, there's no shortage of reactions to today's landmark ruling on same-sex marriage.
Everyone from presidential candidates to activists to local lawmakers has weighed in. Some celebrate the decision while others still somehow cling to the religious liberty defense.
Here are some highlights; some happy, some sad (we've annotated where we deemed appropriate):
The happy:
“Today’s ruling is a transformative triumph decades in the making, a momentous victory for freedom, equality, inclusion, and above all, love. For anyone who ever doubted that we could bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, today the United States again took a giant step toward the more perfect union we the people aspire to. Today the Liberty Bell rings alongside wedding bells across an ocean of joy." —Evan Wolfson, president, Freedom to Marry. (USA! USA! And we aren't reciting that ironically this time.)
“This decision strengthens American secularism and finally acknowledges what we have always known to be true: People who love each other should be free to marry, no matter what any church has to say about it. We happily welcome the Court’s acknowledgment of LGBT equality before the law.” — Ronald A. Lindsay, president of secular group Center for Inquiry. (Tell that to Mike Huckabee and watch his head implode.)
"This is a moment for celebration for the same-sex couples and their families whose commitment and love will now be honored by their communities, states, and nation. The love they have shown has made us a stronger, more perfect union and our country’s progress on marriage equality gives us hope and resolve to finish the work at hand to ensure that all Americans, including our LGBT brothers and sisters, are afforded equal dignity and rights under the law in all areas of life." —Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden, who added that LGBT equality still has hurdles to tackle, including anti-discrimination policies on a broad scale. (It's like we're saying.)
"Today we celebrate an historic week of progressive Supreme Court victories. The Court's decisions on affordable healthcare, housing discrimination and marriage equality set the stage for a stronger America by ensuring a healthier, more fair and economically secure country. Unfortunately, there are still those who want to move our country backwards. As the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, we will continue to fight against Republican attacks on fairness and equality, while fighting for candidates who will nominate and confirm Supreme Court Justices that side with progress. On days like this, we are reminded of the importance of choosing leaders who put people first." —Susan Smith, president of the Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus.
“In my community and throughout my home state of Florida we have fought resolutely for equal rights. It is clear today that those who have opposed marriage equality stand on the wrong side of history and all the hard work in my community, state and throughout the country will not be undone by those in other states standing in the way of progress and equality." —U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa). (So what do y'all think Attorney General Pam Bondi is up to these days? Maybe we should give her a call, see how she's doing.)
"This is a historic day in our nation’s history. For too long, same-sex couples have been discriminated against because of who they are and who they love. Today, that ends. We are a nation that prides itself on the diversity of our citizens, and I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to give same-sex couples equal marriage rights under the law once and for all." —U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-West Palm Beach), Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
"Our nation was founded on the basis of equal rights and today, the Supreme Court’s decision reflected our values. The ability to marry is now a right all Americans have and we no longer must wonder why one class of people has been singled out under the law. Simply put, and the majority of Americans would agree, the union of two people in marriage should not be based on gender, but on love." —U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, (R-Miami). (See? Republicans, too.)
The sad:
“I believe that marriage, as the key to strong family life, is the most important institution in our society and should be between one man and one woman. People who disagree with the traditional definition of marriage have the right to change their state laws. That is the right of our people, not the right of the unelected judges or justices of the Supreme Court. This decision short-circuits the political process that has been under way on the state level for years." —U.S. Senator from Florida Marco Rubio, a presidential contender. (So it should be up to the people to decide? Which people? The mouth breathers you drove to the polls through a mean-spirited, Koch-fueled anti-gay marriage referendum that was actually more about getting Republicans elected? Or adults in committed relationships who are directly affected by this?)
“Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments. In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side. It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.” —Former Florida governor and current presidential hopeful Jeb Bush. (Oh, Jeb, Jeb, Jeb. Do you really think most gay couples would even want their marriages officiated by some drab evangelical in a dry county somewhere in Arkansas anyway?)
The totally nutso:
"The Supreme Court has spoken with a very divided voice on something only the Supreme Being can do — redefine marriage. I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch. We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat.” —Former Arkansas governor and current presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. (Holy shit, this guy is fucking bananas. We commend him on making us speechless. Let's hope he wins the primary.)
If you haven't had enough crazy talk, check out Mother Jones's perusal of Justice Antonin Scalia's batty dissent. It's a hoot.
