Responses to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act:

 

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.: 

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a huge and historic victory for freedom and equality, most especially for marriage equality. Standing on the steps of the Supreme Court today as the decision came down, I was proud and overjoyed to be an American and to represent a state that helped lead the way. Connecticut law guaranteeing marriage equality will now be accorded full respect under federal law – and so will married couples regardless of who they are or whom they love. I thank all in Connecticut and the country who have stayed true to this cause, and I pledge to continue the fight so all Americans in all states have marriage equality.”   

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3:
 
“Today is a victory for equality. Barring LGBT Americans from marriage violates the values we hold dear—justice, freedom and equality. It makes no difference who someone loves, and denying them the same rights as heterosexual couples is just plain wrong. Today’s decisions will make us a fairer and better nation.”

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.:

"It has often been said that the arc of moral history bends only toward justice, and today, the Supreme Court proved this axiom to be true. The right to marry the person you love should not be denied to anyone based on their sexual orientation, because in the end, all that should matter is the love you have for the person standing on altar beside you. I have been part of this movement from the very beginning of my public service, signing up as one of the original ten cosponsors of Connecticut's civil union legislation. Today, I get shivers looking at how far this nation has come in under two decades. The majority of Americans now support marriage equality, and most members of the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, have pledged their support as well. I’m thrilled that the Supreme Court today ruled in favor of common sense and equality, allowing same-sex couples to take advantage of federal benefits that should have been theirs all along. Plain and simple, this is a day that makes me proud to be in public service."

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5:

“This is a momentous and historic day for all Americans. Today, the Supreme Court has made decisions that strengthen families and that live up to our shared values of equality and freedom,” Esty said. “DOMA denied gay and lesbian couples full equality under the law, and I applaud the Court for correcting this constitutional and moral injustice.

“This is personal for many American families, including my own. My brother had the courage to come out in 1979, when equality was still a distant dream. A few years ago, I was thrilled that my brother and his long-time partner were able to publicly commit themselves in marriage – something they had been denied the right to do for many years. Although there is still much work to do in the cause of equality and strengthening all families, I join families across the country in celebrating today’s ruling and looking forward towards a more inclusive, more equal future.”