By — Corinne Segal Corinne Segal Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/photos-theyre-saying-outside-supreme-court-marriage-equality-ruling Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Photos: Crowd reacts outside the Supreme Court after marriage equality ruling Politics Jun 26, 2015 3:20 PM EDT In a landmark ruling today, the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry in any state in the U.S., overturning same-sex marriage bans in 14 states. (Read the full opinion here.) The ruling came on a meaningful day for many: the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor, which determined that the federal government must recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where they were legal. As today’s ruling reached the crowd outside the court, it drew a strong reaction from both supporters and opponents of marriage equality, for whom today was both the culmination of years of work and the harbinger of what work still lies ahead. We spoke with them about their personal connection to the decision. Judy Walton of Grand Rapids, Michigan, said the decision’s impact would reach beyond the LGBTQ community. “How can anyone have freedom if there are people in our society who don’t have freedom?” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Wes Givens, left, filed a lawsuit against the state of Arkansas in 2013 when it refused to recognize the marriage between him and his partner Beau, which was performed in New York. Jane Lanning, right, said she was there to support everyone’s equal rights. “I’m not here just for me,” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Brigid Slipka, left, director of philanthropy for the ACLU, said the decision should be important to all people regardless of their sexuality. “We’re all people. It doesn’t matter how you identify, we should be treated equally,” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Joshua Denton said he did not support same-sex marriage and believed in defining marriage as strictly between a man and a woman. Photo by Corinne Segal White House Deputy Press Secretary Jamal Brown, right, celebrates the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality. Photo by Corinne Segal Joe Goldman, right, who came to the court dressed as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg, said that she had always been a role model for him. Goldman came out as a gay man while he was living in Texas. “Knowing today that my gay friends in Texas can get married gives me shivers,” he said. His friend Sophia Romeu, left, said she was at the court to honor “everyone who has had the courage to fight for what they believe in.” (Photo by Corinne Segal) A group celebrates the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality. Photo by Corinne Segal Joshua Dowling, left, and Sam Knode hug outside the Supreme Court. “It’s amazing to have gone from a child that was afraid to come out … to now being 24 and having the government say that my love matters equally under the law,” Dowling said. Photo by Corinne Segal Karin Quimby came out when she was 17 in 1984. “I never thought I’d see this day in my lifetime,” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Katherine Nicole Struck of Frederick, Maryland (holding sign), said she hoped the decision would be the first step in dismantling discrimination against LGBTQ people. Photo by Corinne Segal By — Corinne Segal Corinne Segal Corinne is the Senior Multimedia Web Editor for NewsHour Weekend. She serves on the advisory board for VIDA: Women in Literary Arts. @cesegal
In a landmark ruling today, the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry in any state in the U.S., overturning same-sex marriage bans in 14 states. (Read the full opinion here.) The ruling came on a meaningful day for many: the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor, which determined that the federal government must recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where they were legal. As today’s ruling reached the crowd outside the court, it drew a strong reaction from both supporters and opponents of marriage equality, for whom today was both the culmination of years of work and the harbinger of what work still lies ahead. We spoke with them about their personal connection to the decision. Judy Walton of Grand Rapids, Michigan, said the decision’s impact would reach beyond the LGBTQ community. “How can anyone have freedom if there are people in our society who don’t have freedom?” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Wes Givens, left, filed a lawsuit against the state of Arkansas in 2013 when it refused to recognize the marriage between him and his partner Beau, which was performed in New York. Jane Lanning, right, said she was there to support everyone’s equal rights. “I’m not here just for me,” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Brigid Slipka, left, director of philanthropy for the ACLU, said the decision should be important to all people regardless of their sexuality. “We’re all people. It doesn’t matter how you identify, we should be treated equally,” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Joshua Denton said he did not support same-sex marriage and believed in defining marriage as strictly between a man and a woman. Photo by Corinne Segal White House Deputy Press Secretary Jamal Brown, right, celebrates the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality. Photo by Corinne Segal Joe Goldman, right, who came to the court dressed as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg, said that she had always been a role model for him. Goldman came out as a gay man while he was living in Texas. “Knowing today that my gay friends in Texas can get married gives me shivers,” he said. His friend Sophia Romeu, left, said she was at the court to honor “everyone who has had the courage to fight for what they believe in.” (Photo by Corinne Segal) A group celebrates the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality. Photo by Corinne Segal Joshua Dowling, left, and Sam Knode hug outside the Supreme Court. “It’s amazing to have gone from a child that was afraid to come out … to now being 24 and having the government say that my love matters equally under the law,” Dowling said. Photo by Corinne Segal Karin Quimby came out when she was 17 in 1984. “I never thought I’d see this day in my lifetime,” she said. Photo by Corinne Segal Katherine Nicole Struck of Frederick, Maryland (holding sign), said she hoped the decision would be the first step in dismantling discrimination against LGBTQ people. Photo by Corinne Segal