They said it
Reaction to the Supreme Court actions Wednesday expanding gay rights:
President Barack Obama: “The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that millions of Americans hold in our hearts: when all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.”
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio: "While I am obviously disappointed in the ruling, it is always critical that we protect our system of checks and balances. A robust national debate over marriage will continue in the public square, and it is my hope that states will define marriage as the union between one man and one woman.”
Rick Jacobs, chair of the California-based Courage Campaign.
org: “This is a watershed moment for equality and a clear statement from the highest court in the land that discrimination and hatred have no place in a country founded on the principles of liberty, justice and equality.”
Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn.: “This just won’t fly in Tennessee. Here, we believe marriage is between one man and one woman.”
Rev. Gary Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral: “Today’s rulings advance civil marriage equality, but they should also serve as a call for Christians to embrace religious marriage equality.”
Maggie Gallagher, fellow at the American Principles Project and co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage: “At the heart of the gay marriage argument is an untruth: unions of two men or women are not the same as unions of husband and wife. The law cannot make it so, it can only require us to paint pretty pictures to cover up deep truths embedded in human nature.”
David Dinielli, deputy legal director at the Southern Poverty Law Center: “Today’s decision is a step in the right direction for same-sex couples who have made legal commitments to each other... It seems almost unthinkable that such a blatantly unfair law would exist today."
Joseph Backholm, executive director of the Family Policy Institute of
Washington: “The Supreme Court got it wrong when it said that the state can tell the federal government how it must define marriage. The federal government, on behalf of those who elected them, should be able to recognize the unique value of relationships that provide children a mother and father.”
Ashley Broadway, a mother of two small children and married to Lt. Col. Heather Mack, stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.: "We still have a long way to go, as far as marriage equality throughout the country, but as a military spouse it is a great day to be an American.”