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Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage in United States: Hollywood Cheers

Major Hollywood players express their excitement about the landmark SCOTUS decision on same-sex marriage.

Supreme Court Gay Marriage Ruling: Hollywood Reacts

Man Under Rainbow Flag - H 2015

 AP Images

The Supreme Court issued its landmark decision on gay marriage Friday, ruling that gay marriage bans are unconstitutional, effectively legalizing gay marriage across the entire United States.

Celebrities were quick to react as Hollywood notables and other public figures expressed their glee — and some, their disappointment.

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“Today is a big step in our march toward equality,” said President Barack Obama. “Proud to celebrate a historic victory for marriage equality,” tweeted presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Actor Neil Patrick Harris thanked Justice Anthony Kennedy and the Supreme Court on Twitter: “Your opinion is profound, in more ways than you may know. ”

“Congratulations America!,” Vicious co-stars Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi said in a joint statement. “The Supreme Court ruling on Gay Marriage is wonderful news, a victory for equality and civil rights. We will celebrate together on Sunday at the Gay Pride Parade in New York. We cannot imagine a better year to be Grand Marshals!”

“Now I too can get drunk in Las Vegas and marry a hooker in the Elvis chapel,” Orange Is the New Black star Lea DeLaria told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “I honor those who have bravely and tirelessly fought to make this a right and not a privilege for everyone living under our flag, with a special shout out to those at the Human Rights Campaign,” Lena Dunham‘s said in a statement to THR. “I am ready to dance my ass off at some same-sex weddings.”

Ellen DeGeneres remarked “Love won,” and Anna Kendrick said “Today is beautiful.” “I have waited decades for this day, and my heart is full of joy and my eyes wet with tears,” George Takei wrote in a Facebook post.

“Love wins,” said Michael Urie in a statement to THR: “Happy day, I’m very proud to be an American and proud of my brothers and sisters that fought the good fight. Now, let’s fix the gun thing.” Adam Lambert said in his statement, “This day is a great celebration in the worldwide movement towards full civil rights for everyone, but we must remember that no one is fully free while others remain oppressed.”

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In addition to Clinton, many presidential candidates weighed in with their opinions. Bernie Sanders tweeted, “Today the Supreme Court fulfilled the words engraved upon its building: ‘Equal justice under law.’ “

But not everyone was happy.

Gov. Mike Huckabee called the decision “an out-of-control act of unconstitutional judicial tyranny.” Rick Santorum wrote, “Today, 5 unelected judges redefined the foundational unit of society. Now it is the people’s turn to speak.”

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“Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage,” said Jeb Bush in a statement. “I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision.”

Here’s a look at what people had to say on social media:

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Oh Happy Day! The Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 that marriage equality is the law of the United States. Yes, ALL of these…

Posted by George Takei on Friday, June 26, 2015

Be proud. #SCOTUSMarriage

Posted by Game of Thrones on Friday, June 26, 2015

Posted by The White House on Friday, June 26, 2015

 

What a day!

A video posted by Hillary Clinton (@hillaryclinton) on

Here are the statements from celebrities and politicians:

Lena Dunham: “This is a beautiful and essential step in recognizing the humanity of LGBTQ Americans. I honor those who have bravely and tirelessly fought to make this a right and not a privilege for everyone living under our flag, with a special shout out to those at the Human Rights Campaign. I am ready to dance my ass off at some same-sex weddings.”

Lance Bass: “I couldn’t be happier today. Not just for all of us in the LGBT community but for all of us as Americans. Today’s ruling keeps the promise of our founders who believed each of us were created equal. They proclaimed it then and today the Supreme Court echoed that refrain. Every one of us should have renewed pride in America today. And to the trailblazers who fought tirelessly for equality — from Stonewall to the Supreme Court — I say a heartfelt and humble ‘thank you.’ “

Adam Lambert: “This day is a great celebration in the worldwide movement towards full civil rights for everyone, but we must remember that no one is fully free while others remain oppressed.”

Lea DeLaria: “This is a giant step forward towards the equal rights of the LGBT community. Now I too can get drunk in Las Vegas and marry a hooker in the Elvis chapel.”

Michael Urie: “Love wins! Happy day, I’m very proud to be an American and proud of my brothers and sisters that fought the good fight. Now, let’s fix the gun thing.” 

Jeb Bush: “Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments. In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side. It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson: “Justin and I are both so emotional over today’s SCOTUS ruling. As a kid, it’s a day I never thought I would see and it brings tears to my eyes to know that the next generation of Americans will grow up in a country where their love is equal and their rights cannot be denied. I am so proud of everyone who has been on the front lines fighting for equality. Today is a great day for celebration, but tomorrow there is more work to do to expand LGBT equality beyond marriage. Everyone at our foundation, Tie The Knot, is excited to continue our work dedicated to that cause. In the meantime, cheers to a day for the history books!”

Joe Biden: “All marriages, at their root, are about love. Today, the Supreme Court affirmed that simple proposition — supported by a majority of Americans and a majority of our states — by recognizing that men marrying men and women marrying women are guaranteed the same civil rights and equal protection under our Constitution afforded to Jill and me, and to anyone else. We couldn’t be prouder. Over the years — in their homes, on our staff, on the frontlines of war, and in houses of worship — Jill and I have befriended countless gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans who share a love for their partners constrained only by social stigma and discriminatory laws. But today, their love is set free with the right to marry and the recognition of that marriage throughout the country. This day is for them, their children, and their families. And it is for generations of advocates — gay, lesbian, transgender, straight — who for decades fought a lonely and dangerous battle.”

Richie Jackson: “This is our entire family at our wedding — I can’t stop thinking of all the families that will be able to have this moment that Jordan [Roth] and I had. What I am most excited about after today’s decision is now young gay Americans are growing up in a country that values and validates their loving relationships. With that new fundamental foundation, I can’t wait to see how they soar!”

Photo Credit: Donna Newman

Alan Poul: “Had I even been able to imagine, when I was a young person, that I would live to see this day, that alone would have changed my sense of wellbeing, of being at ease on the planet. When I think of how this ruling, which was then utterly beyond the horizon of our young minds and our world, might have impacted my own generation, it fills me with hope for generations today and to come, and, for this instant, takes my breath away.”

Harvey Fierstein: “As we stand in the unerring sunlight of this new day, across the distant horizon the storm clouds of inequity are in retreat leaving in their stead a rainbow of the American covenant ‘equal justice for all’. Celebrate America! We¹ve earned this party.”

Jon Robin Baitz: “America is constantly a surprise. The trajectory towards us being a true democracy is rough as hell, but has an inevitability. Americans are suspicious somewhere deep down of unfairness. Gradually, we’ve gone to war over the abolishment of slavery. We eventually boot criminal presidents sometimes, i.e. Nixon over Watergate. Somewhere deep within the national soul, there’s an organic code — the Declaration of Independence is like a prayer, the Bill of Rights is holy, and it may take a long time, and a lot of blood, but as we’ve seen in the majority opinion today, we eventually reject unfairness. There is so much more to do; this is one battle, and it should not have even been one in a land that is concretized by the separation of church and state. Now this fight is over, but what about the economic injustice, the racial tragedy exemplified in flying the confederate flag? We have so many fights ahead of us to make America the great nation it was designed to be. And so today I am thinking ‘one down, so many to go…’ I am proud to be an American despite our adolescence. I’m proud of the fighters — the Stonewall protesters, Mattachine Society pioneers and all those who followed. The battle to de-pathologize homosexuality and the heroic psychiatrists who stepped up to decry the notion that to be gay was to be sick. Today we learn that all action matters — that politics matter and that fighting stasis, and ignorance is the most important inoculation against the evils of discrimination. It’s a big day. I got married two weeks ago to a man who stands beside me in the eyes of the law, my husband, no different to anyone else’s, and we’re entitled to the same rights my parents were when they joined. I love this country, and only want her to be kinder, smarter, wiser. And today we are a little bit of all of those things. Hope.”

Bob Greenblatt: “As the head of a broadcast television network and a gay man, I celebrate and applaud this morning’s Supreme Court ruling prohibiting states from banning gay marriage — and in fact, as Justice Kennedy wrote, giving gay couples and gay families the civil rights that the constitution affords them, ‘equal dignity in the eyes of the law.’ To some degree I’m surprised the decision wasn’t more one-sided because public opinion already seemed to be overwhelmingly on the right side, but as the President pointed out in his remarks this morning, the court’s landmark ruling comes after a long struggle — nearly 50 years after the beginning of the gay rights movement. I want to salute all those — both in the LGBT community and our allies — who have labored tirelessly to push the conversation forward and have bravely spoken out for equality and justice for all. And, I’m privileged to work in an industry that has always worked to portray positive images of LGBT people and tell their human stories, which I believe has played an important part in advancing the conversation. It’s a great day for equality.”

Power attorney and GLAAD co-chair Steve Warren: “I’ve never seen people so happy in my life. Everyone is emailing, texting, calling. This is like people must have felt with the Brown v. Board of Education decision. I’m with my daughter in New Hampshire, and we’re going to celebrate together tonight.”

Carol producer Dorothy Berwin: “I was doing the final mix on [transgender dramedy] Three Generations this morning when people in my office started screaming out the news. When I grew up in London, America was the land of great possibility. I am so happy to be here for this decision, because it feels like America is getting back to its roots. This is very hopeful. People need hope more than anything else.”

Robbie Rogers: “I’ve never been more proud to call myself an American. Many gay boys and girls grow up thinking that they are different from their families or that there is something wrong with them. With today’s ruling, our government is telling them that they are just like their brothers and sisters and that their rights are equally as important. It’s a historic day that is important for all Americans.”

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