An FSU Perspective: SCOTUS Ruling on Marriage Equality

By Danielle Wirsansky on June 27, 2015

Friday, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled by a 5-4 vote in favor of marriage equality in a victory for the gay rights movement. All states must allow same sex marriages. In the jubilation that followed, FSU students shared their views on just why this ruling was a success. Read their interviews below!

 

An FSU Perspective
Tyler Valente
Freshman
Major: Early Childhood Development

“I was so incredibly happy [to hear about the SCOTUS ruling]. I have so many close friends who are affected by the news and I was full of joy for them. I’m so happy that America got something right….Marriage equality is long overdue. I believe that anyone should be free to love whoever they please. Love is love no matter what gender or race. I have so many close friends who are gay and they equally deserve the right to express that…. Congratulations to everyone affected by the news because you deserve it!”

 

 

 

 

An FSU Perspective
Diana García-Mejía
Senior
Major: Visual Disabilities Education

“The bible was once used to support slavery, segregation, and the banning interracial marriage in the same way it was used to strip the LGBT community of their rights. Today is a beautiful day that I believe Christians should rejoice in. Jesus Christ came to free us from the laws stated in Leviticus. I believe that everyone has the right to believe in whatever religion they like, but I also want Christians to recognize that they should not feel as though this decision is against the teachings of Christianity. Love is not a sin. It never was and never will be.”

 

 

 

 

An FSU Perspective
Alex Powers
Senior
Major: Editing/Writing/Media and Sociology

“[I felt ] elated, it was very surreal [hearing about the SCOTUS ruling]. I had just shared a two year-old photo of myself celebrating the repeal of DOMA at the Florida state capitol building, then I saw the headline…. This ruling was long overdue. I support gay marriage equality because I support equality. period. Gays, as Hilary Clinton pointed out, are humans. Their sexual preference doesn’t negate this fact. Therefore, this is a HUMAN right, one that has been withheld from the gay community in our country, until now! I cannot adequately express how proud I am of our generation, and the generations before us who fought so valiantly for equality. Blood, sweat, and tears have been shed by thousands for this ruling, and as a result history has been made. I salute them, my community. Marriage is not the end-all-be-all of equality, but lives were forever changed today, and that deserves celebration.”

 

 

 

 

An FSU Perspective
Berkeley Brown
Freshman
Major: History

“I was shocked to be honest [when I heard about the SCOTUS ruling], I knew the ruling would come out this summer, but to be honest I had no idea it would come out so soon. So when I saw it, I was nervous, because the article didn’t immediately state the ruling. But then I was ecstatic, I’m not personally gay, but I felt a very personal sense of accomplishment and pride, because so many of my friends, including older family have been affected by this…. I know many people were against it, because they believe it’s not the union that God intended, and that same sex marriage isn’t traditional. But we must remember that our country upholds a policy of separation of church and state. So having religious beliefs against same sex marriage just won’t hold up in court anymore. I think that’s why the decision is what it is. You just can’t uphold an anti same sex marriage law based on religious views.

I see no reason to not support [gay marriage]. I have a lot of gay friends and some gay family. Taking away the right to get married is a basic human right. They aren’t half human, or part human, their humans, full citizens like we are. Who are we to deny them basic rights. People get so offended by the concept, but I just want to say to those people, how is this hurting you, or even affecting you? I think it’s perfectly fine not to support being gay in general. Im not trying to change people’s personal beliefs, especially if those beliefs are religiously motivated. But I think trying to deny people their rights isn’t ok, and that isn’t a practice that can be allowed, especially in the legal system.”

An FSU Perspective
Armin Sabatar Aryafar
Freshman
Major: Psychology/ English

“I felt that [the SCOTUS ruling] was long overdue, these things tend to meander on and on with no end in site and I’m glad a resolution was achieved. They call it a great victory and it’s good to celebrate the moment of it being achieved but I think that it is a product of the culmination of decades of protesting and efforts by activist groups…. I am not lbgtq, but I feel that if people’s hearts take them and if they can achieve happiness then who is to stop them, really? The pursuit of happiness is literally a tenant within the constitution and this helps those with different mindsets on love to find their own piece of joy…. My belief is if someone is taking an action and it is truly not hurting anyone else than it would be criminal to prevent them from being allowed pursuing that action.”

An FSU Perspective
Julia Barbato
Sophomore
Major: Exploratory

 

“I felt proud to be an American and proud of my generation for being such a huge part of changing American Mindsets [when I heard about the SCOTUS ruling]. I think this is a more free and equal nation now, and I’m very happy for it. I was with my ultra religious grandma who wasn’t too fond of the decision but I didn’t let her stop my celebration. [I believe the SCOTUS was correct in it's ruling], I just can’t believe it was only 4-5!

I think the science is there that being gay is biological and people can’t decide who they love. I think it’s time we accept people for who they are because they aren’t going to change no matter how badly some people want them to. I support religious freedom too, but not when it infringes on the rights of others who do not hold the same beliefs. If someone holds an intolerant opinion about sexual minorities because of what their holy text that’s okay with me. But it’s not fair to impose those beliefs on an entire country that’s supposed to be secular. If people are against same sex marriage, just don’t marry your same sex! I can’t understand how other people doing so would affect anyone but the couple themselves.”

An FSU Perspective
Kev Skuthan
Sophomore
Major: Finance/Economics

“I felt like it was about time [when I heard about the SCOTUS ruling]. While we like to remark at how quickly gay acceptance has come in this country, it’s worth noting that rights for citizens can never come too soon. Respect those who fought in the past for these unalienable rights, and those who sacrificed such as Mathew Shepard. We need to realize that the government shouldn’t tell us what we can’t do with our lives, and that marriage is not an entity owned or defined by neither religion nor government.”

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