LGBT group responds to Supreme Court opening

arguments
Beth Walton, bwalton@citizen-times.com

1:31 p.m. EDT April 29, 2015

ASHEVILLETheRev.JasmineBeachFerraraspentthemorninggluedtothenews.Foryears,sheandher
staffattheCampaignforSouthernEqualityhavebeenpushingfortherightofsamesexcouplestomarryinall
50states.
TheirlongstandingeffortscametoaheadTuesdaymorningastheU.S.SupremeCourtheardopening
argumentsinfoursamesexmarriagecases.AdecisionisexpectedinJune.

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(Photo:Katie
Bailey/bkbailey@citizentimes.com)

"Thismorning'sargumentsmakeclearthefreedomtomarryisafundamentalrightthatshouldbeextendedto
allsamesexcouples,"theministeratAsheville'sFirstCongregationalUnitedChurchofChristsaid."Beyond
that,thereissimplynovalidlegaldefensefortheselaws."

Lastmonth,theCampaignforSouthernEqualityfiledanamicusbriefalongsidetheEqualityFederationcallingontheSupremeCourttoactquicklyto
ensurethefreedomtomarryacrossthenation.
ItarguedthatLGBTSouthernersdonotyethavethepoliticalpowertoachieveequalitythroughthelegislativeprocessdespitegrowingpublicsupport.
Samesexcouplesnowcanmarryin36statesandtheDistrictofColumbia,andthecourtisweighingwhethergayandlesbianunionsshouldbeallowed
inall50states.
"WecanchangetheSouthtogether,"BeachFerraratoldasmallcrowdholdingvigilattheFirstCongregationalUnitedChurchofChristMondaynight.

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Morethan30peoplegatheredinthechurch'ssanctuarytoexpresshopeformarriageequality.TheeventwaspartofthenationalUniteforMarriage
movement.Hundredsofgroupsacrossthecountryhelddemonstrations.TheMitchellCountyGayStraightAllianceplanedactivitiesinBakersville.
Itwasn'tthatlongagotheCampaignforSouthernEqualitywasfightingagainstAmendmentOne,BeachFerrarasaid.Thetruthisonoursidejusticeis
onourside."Weareonthesideoflove."
ThecasesbeforethecourtcomefromKentucky,Michigan,OhioandTennessee,fourofthe14remainingstatesthatallowonlyheterosexualmarriage.

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RobynMoser,left,andKathleenMcCaffertysittogetherduringavigilheldbytheCampaignforSouthernEqualityattheFirstCongregationalUnitedChurchofChristin
AshevilleMondaynight.TheUniteforMarriagecoalitionworkedwithlocalleadersacrossthecountrytoorganizecandlelightvigilsleadinguptooralargumentsinthe
U.S.SupremeCourtonTuesday.(Photo:KatieBailey/bkbailey@citizentimes.com)

Theargumentsofferedthefirstpublicindicationofwherethejusticesstandinthedisputeoverwhetherstatescancontinuedefiningmarriageasthe
unionofamanandawoman,orwhethertheConstitutiongivesgayandlesbiancouplestherighttomarry.
Ingeneral,theconservativejusticesindicatedtheirsupportforthestates,whilethecourt'sliberalssignaledtheywouldfindthatsamesexcouplesshould
beallowedtomarrythroughoutthecountry.
SupremeCourtJusticeAnthonyKennedydidnotmakehisintentionsclear.Thejustice,whosevotecoulddecidetheissue,offeredreasonsforhopeand
worrytobothsidesinthecourtroom.
Hesaidmarriagehasbeenunderstoodasonemanandonewomanfor"millenniaplustime."Healsosaidsamesexmarriagehasbeenaroundinthe
UnitedStatesforjustover10years,andhewonderedaloudwhetherscholarsandthepublicneedmoretime.
InthequietsolitudeofFirstCongregationalUnitedChurchofChrist,peoplelitcandlesandsharedhopesforamoreinclusiveandsupportivefuture.They
sang:"Wearenotbackingdown.We'reonestepclosernow."
BeachFerraraurgedanendtocomplacencyasshediscussedthecampaign'spushformarriageequalityinMississippi,TennesseeandAlabama.When
LGBTpeoplesharetheirstories,powerfulthingshappen,shesaid.
OneofthefirstlesbiancouplestomarryinBuncombeCounty,CathyMcGaugheyandDianeAnsleyofFortWorth,toldthecrowdthebestthingabout
theirverypublicmarriageinOctoberwasgratitudefromstrangers.
EversinceexchangingvowsattheBuncombeCountyRegisterofDeedsOfficeinfrontofnewscameras,peoplefromalloverhavewrittenthecouple
thankingthemforpavingtheway.
ThetwowereplaintiffsinthecasethatledtoU.S.DistrictCourtJudgeMaxO.CogburnJr.strikingdownNorthCarolina'ssamesexmarriageban.
"That'swhatmadeitallworthwhile,"Ansleysaid."Wewantedtohelptheyounggenerationstohavewhatwedidn't."
LindseySimerly,campaignmanagerattheCampaignforSouthernEquality,remindedparticipantsthereisstillapoliticalfighttobewon.
MembersoftheNorthCarolinaGeneralAssemblyareinsistingonrollingbacktheclock,shesaid.Shethenaskedpeopletotakeouttheircellphones.
Whilesittingintheirpews,SimerlyhadprotesterscallGov.PatMcCrorytoexpressdisdainforSenateBill2.Theproposedlegislationwouldallow
magistratesandsomeregisterofdeedsofficeemployeestooptoutoffacilitatingmarriagesonreligiousgrounds.
Evenifthereisafavorableruling,thereisstillworktobedone,BeachFerrarasaid.TheCampaignforSouthernEqualitywillneedtosupportitspartner
organizations,ensuringsmoothimplementationofthenewlaw.Itwillalsocontinueitsfightforworkplaceequalityandprotectionsfortransgenderpeople.

TheLGBTequalitymovementmustalsoexpandtoincludefightsforracialequityandincreasedminimumwage,sheadded.
"LGBTpeoplearepartofliterallyeverycommunity,"BeachFerrarasaid."Thehorizonaheadisverymuchstandinginalliancewithallwhocareabout
dignityandjusticeforall."
TheAssociatedPresscontributedtothisreport.

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USATODAY

Justices appear cautious, divided on same-sex marriage

(http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/28/supreme-court-gay-marriage/26474377/)

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