Remarks
by the President on the Supreme Court’s Decision on Marriage Equality
Rose Garden
June 26, 2015
Good morning. Our nation was founded on a bedrock principle
that we are all created equal. The
project of each generation is to bridge the meaning of those founding words
with the realities of changing times – a never-ending quest to ensure those
words ring true for every single American.
Progress on this journey often
comes in small increments, sometimes two steps forward, one step back,
propelled by the persistent effort of dedicated citizens. And then sometimes, there are days like this
when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a
thunderbolt. This morning, the Supreme Court
recognized that the Constitution
guarantees marriage equality. In doing
so, they’ve reaffirmed that all Americans are entitled to the equal protection
of the law. That all people should be
treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love.
This decision will end the
patchwork system we currently have. It
will end the uncertainty hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples face from
not knowing whether their marriage, legitimate in the eyes of one state, will
remain if they decide to move [to] or even visit another. This ruling will strengthen all of our
communities by offering to all loving same-sex couples the dignity of marriage
across this great land.
In my second inaugural address, I
said that if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one
another must be equal as well. It is
gratifying to see that principle enshrined into law by this decision.
This ruling is a victory for Jim
Obergefell and the other plaintiffs in the case. It’s a victory for gay and lesbian couples
who have fought so long for their basic civil rights. It’s a victory for their children, whose
families will now be recognized as equal to any other. It’s a victory for the allies and friends and
supporters who spent years, even decades, working and praying for change to
come.
And 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.
My administration has been guided
by that idea. It’s why we stopped
defending the so-called Defense of
Marriage Act, and why we were pleased when the Court finally struck down a
central provision of that discriminatory law.
It’s why we ended “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” From extending full marital benefits to
federal employees and their spouses, to expanding hospital visitation rights
for LGBT patients and their loved ones, we’ve made real progress in advancing
equality for LGBT Americans in ways that were unimaginable not too long
ago.
I know change for many of our
LGBT brothers and sisters must have seemed so slow for so long. But compared to so many other issues, America’s
shift has been so quick. I know that
Americans of goodwill continue to hold a wide range of views on this issue.
Opposition in some cases has been based on sincere and deeply held
beliefs. All of us who welcome today’s
news should be mindful of that fact; recognize different viewpoints; revere our
deep commitment to religious freedom.
But today should also give us
hope that on the many issues with which we grapple, often painfully, real
change is possible. Shifts in hearts and minds is possible. And those who have come so far on their
journey to equality have a responsibility to reach back and help others join
them. Because for all our differences,
we are one people, stronger together than we could ever be alone. That’s always been our story.
We are big and vast and diverse;
a nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, different
experiences and stories, but bound by our shared ideal that no matter who you
are or what you look like, how you started off, or how and who you love,
America is a place where you can write your own destiny.
We are a people who believe that
every single child is entitled to life and liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
There’s so much more work to be
done to extend the full promise of America to every American. But today, we can say in no uncertain terms
that we’ve made our union a little more perfect.
That’s the consequence of a
decision from the Supreme Court, but, more importantly, it is a consequence of
the countless small acts of courage of millions of people across decades who
stood up, who came out, who talked to parents – parents who loved their
children no matter what. Folks who were
willing to endure bullying and taunts, and stayed strong, and came to believe
in themselves and who they were, and slowly made an entire country realize that
love is love.
What an extraordinary achievement. What a vindication of the belief that
ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
What a reminder of what Bobby Kennedy once said about how small actions
can be like pebbles being thrown into a still lake, and ripples of hope cascade
outwards and change the world.
Those countless, often anonymous
heroes – they deserve our thanks. They
should be very proud. America should be
very proud.
Thank you. (Applause.) |
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