Supreme Court Rejects Same-Sex Marriage Appeals

The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages in 11 states and rejected appeals from 5 states

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages in 11 states and rejected appeals from 5 states.

Andrew Beckwith of the Massachusetts Family Institute and Vickie Henry of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders joined NECN to discuss the progress.

"They're not willing to, at this point, impose the definition of marriage on all 50 states and they're probably trying to let some of the cases that are still on-going in other district courts percolate out through the system," Beckwith explained.

Henry continued by explaining that the court did not feel the urgency to make a definitive decision.

"I think it's a great day. A lot of people now are going to be able to access all the benefits and responsibilities of marriage, but we're still waiting for the 50 state solution," she said. "At this point, there are marriage challenges pending in every state that didn't already have marriage, so the cases are already filed."

Beckwith says that one report shows that support for same-sex marriage may have peaked. In addition, one court in Louisiana defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman in a recent case.

Laws in 30 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, have now legalized same-sex marriage. 

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