America celebrates with gay abandon

NEW YORK: Actors, singers and Hollywood celebrities, many of whom have played a major role in driving acceptance of equal rights for gay people in mainstream culture, whooped with joy at the US Supreme Court’s ruling that made same-sex marriage legal nationwide yesterday.

Twitter lit up after the historic decision, with #LoveWins, accompanied by a rainbow-coloured heart, and #Supreme Court quickly becoming the top trending items on the social media site.

Celebrities such as Elton John and Ellen DeGeneres, both of whom are in same-sex marriages, have spoken out in support of same-sex unions for years.

Popular American TV shows Will & Grace, Glee and Modern Family are also widely credited with playing an influential role in changing the perception of homosexual and transgender people in the United States and beyond.

Immediately after the decision, homosexual couples in many states where same-sex marriage had been banned, headed to county clerks’ offices for marriage licences, as state officials issued statements saying they would respect the ruling.

President Barack Obama, appearing in the White House Rose Garden, hailed the ruling as a milestone in American justice that arrived “like a thunderbolt”.

“This ruling is a victory for America. This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts.

“When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free.” – Reuters