USA-COURT/GAY MARRIAGE-ACTOR Same-sex couple says they are happy about the recent ruling on gay marriage

Record ID: 148667

  • Title: USA-COURT/GAY MARRIAGE-ACTOR Same-sex couple says they are happy about the recent ruling on gay marriage
  • Date: 1st July 2015
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 26, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEWS TICKER READING "SUPREME COURT RULES GAY MARRIAGE IS A NATIONWIDE RIGHT" NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 30, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SAME SEX COUPLE KIT WILLIAMSON (RIGHT) AND JOHN HALBACH (LEFT) (SOUNDBITE) (English) KIT WILLIAMSON, ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED, SAYING: "It was actually li
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2Y076F8HKJFRU9BLSG2TXXJ46
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Days after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide on June 26th same-sex couples and supporters are still rejoicing.
    "It was actually like, kind of like a sports game almost. It was like, oh my God, there is four against - what do we do? But it was really amazing to have that be the first thing in the morning to wake up to," said actor Kit Williamson who celebrated the decision with his fiance John Halbach in New York.
    The court ruled 5-4 that the Constitution's guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law mean that states cannot ban same-sex marriages. With the landmark ruling, gay marriage becomes legal in all 50 states.
    The couple, who have been dating for over 8 years, got engaged in 2014 and talked about the significance of the decision.
    "It's a really big deal because now marriage is recognized federally across the country. Before if you were married in New York and went to Mississippi your marriage wouldn't necessarily be recognized there. If your spouse ended up in a hospital you may not be able to visit them," said Halbach who was raised in Minnesota.
    Williamson was born and raised in Mississippi.
    The duo also said the ruling is especially important for gay children and helping them feel accepted.
    "I know we're very lucky, we have great families who support and love us. If you're not that lucky and you don't have a great family that is ok with who you are and you're also living in a country where the government isn't ok with who you are how are you suppose to reconcile that," said Halbach, who does marketing for the Broadway musical "Fun.Home."
    The ruling, the culmination of a long legal fight by gay rights advocates, follows steady gains in public approval in recent years for same-sex marriage. In 2004 Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage. But the decision may provoke fresh legal fights in some conservative, Republican-governed states.
    At least two states, Louisiana and Mississippi, said they would not immediately issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples while awaiting legal formalities. Supreme Court rulings generally take 25 days to go into effect.
    "I know that the response from republican leaders in the South, were I'm from, has been particularly vitriolic. The governor saying that federal standards are out of step with the majority of Mississippians and what the majorities wishes are should not lead in terms of the rights of the minority. That's a tyrannical state, that is a very scary country that I don't want to live in, where our rights are constantly up for debate. And I hope that this does lay the issue to rest and that our human dignity as a couple is recognized," said Williamson, who has appeared in the television show "Mad Men."
    While the ruling only affects state laws and religious institutions can still choose whether to marry same-sex couples, the court predicted future legal conflicts.
    Halbach and Williamson plan to wed in 2016.
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