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Same-sex marriage: JK Rowling, Tim Cook and Hillary Clinton lead Twitter celebrations after landmark Supreme Court equality ruling
Same-sex marriage: JK Rowling, Tim Cook and Hillary Clinton lead Twitter celebrations after landmark Supreme Court equality ruling
(about 11 hours later)
Same-sex couples in America have been granted the right to marry following a Supreme Court ruling – and the whole world is celebrating.
Same-sex couples in America have been granted the right to marry following a Supreme Court ruling – and the whole world is celebrating.
The landmark 5-4 ruling gives gay and lesbian couples anywhere in the US the right to marry. Within minutes, the hashtag #lovewins was trending.
The landmark 5-4 ruling gives gay and lesbian couples anywhere in the US the right to marry. Within minutes, the hashtag #lovewins was trending.
Same-sex couples could already marry in 36 states and the District of Columbia, but the ruling means the remaining 14 states will have to stop enforcing their bans.
Same-sex couples could already marry in 36 states and the District of Columbia, but the ruling means the remaining 14 states will have to stop enforcing their bans.
President Obama led jubilant messages supporting the decision from key figures across the world, praising the move as “a big step in our march toward equality”. His tweet was shared more 70,000 times in less than 30 minutes, while actors, politicians, activists and other notebale figures from across the world also expressed their joy at the news.
President Obama led jubilant messages supporting the decision from key figures across the world, praising the move as “a big step in our march toward equality”. His tweet was shared more 70,000 times in less than 30 minutes, while actors, politicians, activists and other notebale figures from across the world also expressed their joy at the news.
Here are just a few of their reactions:
Here are just a few of their reactions:
Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ! #gaymarriage #LoveWins #SCOTUS #KaliefBrowder
Six years ago I promised LGBT people federal equality from a very big stage. Today a monumental piece of that puzzle is in place. #LoveWins
Couldn't be happier about this #LoveWins
EQUALITY IS NOW! Thank you, Supremes. #America #PRIDE
Proud to celebrate a historic victory for marriage equality—& the courage & determination of LGBT Americans who made it possible. -H
Wow. Another historic day for #MarriageEquality! https://t.co/rkeVQUWb6r
Today is beautiful
LOVE WINS!!!!!!! WE ARE EQUAL!!!!!!!! Ps. Somebody marry me, quick!!!!!
Today marks a victory for equality, perseverance and love.
The avatar on the White House's official Twitter page was rainbow coloured almost immediately after the announcement.
The avatar on the White House's official Twitter page was rainbow coloured almost immediately after the announcement.
#LoveWins. pic.twitter.com/s5aiwIsFz8
#MarriageEquality for all is a right. I applaud today's historic #SCOTUS decision.
Congratulations America for finally catching up to the modern era with this landmark step forward for gay and lesbian rights.
Huge day for America.. Happy to see the news. All the love
In his closing statement, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote: "No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.
In his closing statement, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote: "No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.
"As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death.
"As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death.
"It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfilment for themselves.
"It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfilment for themselves.
"Why do people think it's OK to ask deeply personal questions when you're transgender?"
Reuters / Vanity Fair
"Look, I can be married to the most beautiful woman in the world, and I am. I can have the most beautiful little daughter in the world, and I have that. But I'm nothing if I can't be me. If I can't be true to myself, they don't mean anything," the rapper said about Jenner.
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"Homosexuals are not interested in making other people homosexuals. Homophobes are interested in making other people homophobic."
Rex
"Gay rights are human rights."
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“The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”
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'"We are not what other people say we are. We are who we know ourselves to be, and we are what we love."
"I am proud that we have made same-sex marriage happen. I am delighted that the love two people have for each other — and the commitment they want to make — can now be recognised as equal."
AFP/Getty Images
"We don't have a choice. People think we wake up one morning, put a dress on and be a woman. I knew about it when I was very young but I was brought up in a male world and had responsibilities, I was frightened and I wanted to beat it. I didn't want to lose my friends. In the end I was so depressed and so desperate, I tried to commit suicide about three times."
Getty
"To me beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It's about knowing and accepting who you are."
"Just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about. Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don't contract them."
AFP/Getty Images
"To me, being gay was just another way that you can be."
Getty Images
"The thing is, I'm not ashamed - that's the one thing I want to say. I don't think it's wrong, I;m not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy."
Larry Busacca/Getty Images
"Whether you're gay or straight, you should be able to signify your commitment, your love, with the term marriage."
Reuters
"Gender is not sane. It's not sane to call a rainbow black and white."
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"Maybe we should make straight marriage illegal. It doesn't seem to have a very high success rate."
GETTY IMAGES
"I felt so alone and trapped in who I was... for people to be so supportive about it has been amazing."
"I'm not gay, although I wish I were just to piss off the homophobes."
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"You choose to love whoever you love. It's no different than discriminating against blacks."
PA
"I am a strong, black, lesbian woman. Every single time I say it, I feel so much better."
Rex Features
"You don't have to be gay to be a supporter, you just have to be human."
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"I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission... I suffered for years because I was scared to be out... I'm gay."
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"I want to own my truth... No one else should tell my story but me."
"I think the best day will be when we no longer talk about being gay or straight... It's not a gay wedding, it's just a wedding. It's not a gay marriage, it's just a marriage."
"When I acknowledged my sexuality, I felt whole for the first time."
GETTY IMAGES
"Acceptance has to come from within and this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed."
"I believe that marriage isn't between a man and a woman; but between love and love."
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"So I am deeply saddened and shocked over the current legislation that is now in place against the LGBT community here in Russia. In my opinion, it is inhumane and it is isolating."
Getty Images
"Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilizations oldest insitutions.
"Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilizations oldest insitutions.
"They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."
"They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."
