On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the Constitution guaranteed a right to same-sex marriage. This long awaited ruling made marriage equality the law of the land. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, "No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were." Marriage is a "keystone of our social order," Kennedy continued, adding that the plaintiffs in the case were seeking "equal dignity in the eyes of the law."
-Rabbi Adam Chalom officiating a marriage ceremony
This ruling is more than a court decision. It significantly impacts the lives of real couples, raising families. For them, they are finally being afforded what many heterosexual couples have long taken for granted.
SHJ's Brian Kutinsky was recently interviewed by the
Detroit Jewish News. He and his partner, Michael Neumann, are enjoying a 23 year partnership, and have three adopted children. They were asked how the ruling affected their family. Click
here to read the full Detroit Jewish News story.
The historic Supreme Court decision legalizing marriage equality was long anticipated by SHJ. The ruling validates
the position held by SHJ for decades.