On June 26, the United States Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal nationwide. Over 30 states had already legalized gay marriage, but the Supreme Court’s historic ruling made it the law of the land. The vote on the matter was 5–4, and the opinions released reflected the division of the court. It is customary for one Justice to pen the majority and minority opinions. For this case, all the dissenting Justices (John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas) took the usually step of each releasing an opinion. Here are a few select quotes from the Justices who voted in opposition.
Chief Justice John Roberts:
“Many people will rejoice at this decision, and I begrudge none their celebration. But for those who believe in a government of laws, not of men, the majority’s approach is deeply disheartening.”
Justice Antonin Scalia:
“The Court ends this debate, in an opinion lacking even a thin veneer of law.
“The opinion (of the majority) is couched in a style that is as pretentious as its content is egotistic.”
Resistance to Gay Marriage
While the majority of Americans now approve of gay weddings, there is still opposition to these unions.
- Rowan County Kentucky
The case of Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis, is the most recent, high-profile example of defiance. Davis refused on multiple occasions to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples. In an emotional plea, Kim Davis told Judge David Bunning she could not issue the marriage licenses due to her religious beliefs. The judge then sent her to jail. Bunning said he too was religious, but when he took his oath to become a judge it required him to put his personal beliefs aside. “Her good faith belief is simply not a viable defense,” Bunning said.
In a later session, Kim Davis was given another opportunity to avoid incarceration. All of Davis’ six deputies, with the exception of the one that is her son, agreed to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples. Her lawyer was asked if she would agree to not interfere with her deputies doing so. “We cannot represent to the court that she would allow licenses to be issued,” attorney Mat Staver said.
- Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
In October 2014, same-sex unions were legalized in Idaho, which was eight months before the Supreme Court made them legal nationwide. Despite the ruling, some pastors were still refusing to marry gay couples, so the city officials took matters into their own hands. They enacted a city ordinance that stated anyone refusing to marry homosexual partners would be subject to jail time and fines if they did not comply. When local ministers Donald and Evelyn Knapp, owners of Coeur d’Alene’s Hitching Post Wedding Chapel, declined to wed a gay couple they were threatened with 180 days in jail and a $1,000 per day fine for each day they did not comply.
- The Florist
County clerks and ministers are not the only people who oppose gay marriage. Florists have also refused to offer their services to same-sex couples. Seventy-year-old Richland, Washington florist Barronelle Stutzman had to appear in court after she declined to provide flowers for the wedding of Robert Ingersoll and Curt Reed. What bothered the couple even more was that Stutzman had been a longtime friend. A judge ultimately ruled she was in violation of the Washington Law Against Discrimination and fined her $1,000. Her lawyers said the fines and other fees would ruin her financially. A GoFundMe campaign was set-up to help “protect Barronnelle and her livelihood.” Over $94,000 was raised by more than 2,300 donors.
Despite the fact that over 55 percent of Americans now approve of same-sex unions, there is still division on this issue. Supreme Court Justices, county clerks, ministers, business owners and others continue to voice their opposition.