New York senator Hillary Clinton
"Hillary Clinton believes that gay and lesbian
couples in committed relationships should have the
same rights and responsibilities as all Americans and
believes that civil unions are the best way to achieve this
goal. As president, Hillary Clinton will work to ensure that
same-sex couples have access to these rights and
responsibilities at the federal level. She has said
and continues to believe that the issue of marriage
should be left to the states."
Illinois senator Barack Obama
"Barack Obama has always believed that same-sex
couples should enjoy equal rights under the law, and
he will continue to fight for civil unions as
president. He respects the decision of the California
supreme court, and continues to believe that states
should make their own decisions when it comes to the
issue of marriage.”
Arizona senator John McCain
"John McCain supports the right of the people of
California to recognize marriage as a unique
institution sanctioning the union between a man and a
woman, just as he did in his home state of Arizona. John
McCain doesn't believe judges should be making these
decisions."
Wisconsin congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
“Like many Americans, I’m elated
by today’s California state supreme court
ruling that laws excluding gay and lesbian couples from the
right to marry were unconstitutional. There will be
more legal and political challenges ahead as we
continue our march toward full equality for all
Americans. But today is a day to savor the moment and recall
what Dr. King often preached, 'The arc of the moral
universe is long, but it bends toward
justice.'”
Joe Solmonese, HRC president
“This is a historic day for the state of
California and a long-awaited day for the plaintiffs
in this case and their families. The California
supreme court has made clear that same-sex couples in
committed relationships and their families deserve the
same level of respect afforded to opposite-sex
couples. The court did its job by ensuring that the
state constitution provides the same rights and protections
for everyone. This is a decision that strengthens
California families.”
Patrick Sammon, Log Cabin Republicans president
"The debate does not end with this decision.
Discussions about the freedom to marry will continue
with our families, coworkers, and neighbors. Marriage
is good for all Americans -- gay and straight. It
promotes values that strengthen society and the family.
Today's ruling shows once again that states are
capable of making these decisions on their own,
without unnecessary intervention from the federal
government. Marriage has always been and should
continue to be a state issue. This is the essence
of federalism."
House speaker Nancy Pelosi
“I welcome the California supreme
court’s historic decision. I have long
fought against discrimination and believe that the state
constitution provides for equal treatment for all of
California’s citizens and families, which
today’s decision recognizes. I commend the
plaintiffs from San Francisco for their courage and
commitment. I encourage California citizens to
respect the court’s decision, and I continue to
strongly oppose any ballot measure that would write
discrimination into the state constitution. Today is a
significant milestone for which all Californians can
take pride.”
Neil G. Giuliano, GLAAD president
"Today's ruling affirms that committed couples,
gay and straight, should not be denied the duties,
obligations, and protections of marriage. We
congratulate and express our deepest appreciation to the
National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California,
Lambda Legal, the ACLU, Our Family Coalition, Heller
Ehrman LLP, the law office of David C. Codell, and the
other organizations, leaders, and courageous couples
whose work and perseverance culminated in today's ruling.
This decision is a vital affirmation to countless
California couples -- straight and gay -- who want to
make and have made a lifelong commitment to take care
of and be responsible for each other."
Howard Dean, DNC chairman
"The supreme court of California today took a
step forward in the long march toward protecting equal
rights under the law for every American. This should
not be a matter of politics or partisanship; it is a
matter of protecting the rights and dignity of all American
families."
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
"I respect the court's decision and as governor,
I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the
past, I will not support an amendment to the
constitution that would overturn this state supreme court
ruling."
New York City council speaker Christine C. Quinn
"I applaud the California supreme court for
lifting its ban on gay marriage and upholding the
fundamental and universal rights of civil equality and
equal protection. While this is a tremendous victory in our
fight for equal rights, we must carry on with our efforts
toward making marriage equality a reality in the state
of New York. I implore every member of the New York
state legislature to place equal rights ahead of
politics and end discrimination against lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender people by conferring the
right to marry to same-sex couples. History has
repeatedly shown that the arc of equality always bends
towards justice. I know that, soon enough, LGBT New Yorkers
will have the right to marry."
Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank
"I want to offer to my friends in California
both congratulations and reassurance: I congratulate
California's supreme court for recognizing that all of
California's citizens are entitled to basic civil rights;
and I can assure the people of the state that the
result of this decision will be to improve the quality
of life of tens of thousands of Californians who will
now be able legally to express their love for each
other, while having no negative effect whatsoever on the
overwhelming majority of Californians who will choose
not to marry someone of the same sex.
"As in California, Massachusetts's experience with same-sex marriage began with a 4–3 decision of our highest court. There was initially some controversy. Subsequently, after reality banished the concerns that many had expressed about the impact of this decision, our state legislature voted by more than 3–1 to ratify the decision, and today, most people find it hard to remember that there was ever any serious fear about it."
Director, actor, and political activist Rob Reiner
"Our nation was founded on the principle that
all people are created equal. Today's decision is
a huge step toward fulfilling that promise.
Celebration is certainly called for, but the fight for
equality is far from over. Court decisions may
guarantee equality under the law, but the real
struggle is for the tolerance of our fellow Americans. This
decision by a majority-Republican court signals that it's
time to put this kind of discrimination and bigotry
behind us. Unfortunately, not everyone will hear the
court's message. Already, there is a campaign being
organized to overturn this decision at the ballot
box. Californians must put an end to this sort of
cynical and divisive politics once and for all.
California has led our nation so many times
before. I hope that once again we set an example that
the nation will follow."
Matt Barber, Concerned Women for America policy
director for cultural issues
“The California supreme court has engaged
in the worst kind of judicial activism today,
abandoning its role as an objective interpreter of the
law and instead legislating from the bench. It’s
absurd to suggest that the framers of the California
state constitution could have ever imagined
there’d be a day when so-called same-sex marriage
would even be conceptualized, much less seriously
considered. If anyone then had suggested the
ridiculous notion, early Californians would have laughed
their smocks off.
“So-called same-sex marriage is counterfeit marriage. Marriage is, and has always been, between a man and a woman. We know that it’s in the best interest of children to be raised with a mother and a father. To use children as guinea pigs in radical San Francisco–style social experimentation is deplorable.
“The majority of Americans recognize the fact that legitimate marriage and family are cornerstones of a healthy society. Reasonable people have had enough and are refusing to allow radical extremists to redefine marriage and family into oblivion. So-called same-sex marriage is a ridiculous and oxymoronic notion that has been forced into popular lexicon by homosexual activists and their extremist left-wing allies.
“If people who engage in homosexual behavior want to dress up and play house, that’s their prerogative, but we shouldn’t destroy the institutions of legitimate marriage and family in order to help facilitate a counterfeit.
“On a positive note, the court’s decision today will likely serve as a wake-up call to both Californians and their fellow Americans across the country. I’m certain this decision will help fuel a California marriage amendment and reignite debate over a federal amendment which would protect marriage as between one man and one woman.”
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