SUPREME COURT PLAZA, Washington, DC – On news this morning that the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its opinions in the two marriage equality cases argued this Term – Hollingsworth v. Perry and United States v. Windsor – Constitutional Accountability Center Vice President Judith E. Schaeffer released the following statement:

“Today was a big victory for equality at the Supreme Court.

“In a resounding decision striking down a core part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the court held that the Constitution prohiibits the federal government from making legally married same-sex couples second class citizens.

“Then, in a second ruling, the Court let stand the District Court’s holding that California’s Proposition 8 violates the Fourteenth Amendment rights of gay men and lesbians in California. Proposition 8 and the regime of federal discrimination under DOMA are no more. 

“Ten years ago today in the landmark case of Lawrence v. Texas, the Court struck down state laws making gay men and lesbians criminals. Today is another huge step forward in vindicating the Constitution’s promise of equality for all persons.”

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Resources:

CAC’s case page, including “friend of the court” brief, for Hollingsworth v. Perry (Proposition 8): http://theusconstitution.org/cases/hollingsworth-v-perry

CAC’s case page, including “friend of the court” brief, for United States v. Windsor (DOMA): http://theusconstitution.org/cases/united-states-v-windsor 

“Will Supreme Court recognize my marriage?,” Judith E. Schaeffer , March 27, 2013:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/03/26/supreme-court-gay-marriage/2022377/ 

“It’s Not A Mystery When State Laws Prohibiting Same-Sex Couples From Marrying ‘Became Unconstitutional’”

Elizabeth B. Wydra, March 26, 2013: http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/1900/its-not-mystery-when-state-laws-prohibiting-same-sex-couples-marrying-became 

“Perry: A Resounding Affirmation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Universal Guarantee of Equality,” David H. Gans, 

February 9, 2012: http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/1293/perry-v-brown-resounding-affirmation-fourteenth-amendment%E2%80%99s-universal-guarantee 

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Constitutional Accountability Center (www.theusconstitution.org) is a think tank, public interest law firm, and action center dedicated to fulfilling the progressive promise of the Constitution’s text and history.

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