Congresswoman Matsui Statement on Supreme Court's Ruling in Favor of Marriage Equality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
CONTACT: JONELLE TRIMMER
202-225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Statement on Supreme Court's Ruling in Favor of Marriage Equality
Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) issued the following statement on the United States Supreme Court's ruling in favor of andlsquo;equal justice under the law.' The Supreme Court issued rulings today on two cases related to marriage equality. United States v. Windsor challenged the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), while Hollingsworth v. Perry challenged the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8. In their action today, the Supreme Court ruled the heart of DOMA unconstitutional, and ruled that the district court's decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional remains in effect:
"Today I join millions of Americans in expressing my pleasure with this morning's Supreme Court decisions. Discrimination should never be the law of the land, and the Court's decisions today exemplify a bedrock of our society; the importance of andlsquo;equal justice under the law.' The ruling today that the heart of DOMA is unconstitutional reaffirms what many of us already knew - that the freedom to marry is a fundamental right that should be afforded to all Americans. It means that individuals who entered into a marriage will now be guaranteed the federal rights and privileges they deserve, regardless of the gender of their spouse.
"I am especially pleased that the Supreme Court ruled that the California district court's decision on Proposition 8 remains in effect. As the district court had ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional, this means that all Californians are now free to marry, and have that marriage be recognized by our great state.
"Today is a great day for the advancement of freedom and equality in our nation, our state, and the Sacramento region. While there is more work to be done to ensure that every lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender receives equal treatment under the law, the Court's decisions today brought our nation one step closer to ensuring equality for all Americans."
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