ST. GEORGE – As the Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether or not same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, politicians, advocacy groups and others in Utah watching from the sidelines made their thoughts known throughout the day as statements were released to media.
Sen. Orrin Hatch
The issue of same-sex marriage involves deeply held convictions on all sides of the debate. While I oppose discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, I do not support redefining the fundamental nature of marriage as between a man and a woman. But whatever one’s personal views on the issue, it is clear that nothing in the Constitution requires states to recognize same-sex marriage. This issue – like so many others – is rightly left to the states and the people to decide. The Supreme Court should not invent a new right to same-sex marriage at the expense of the rule of law. Instead, I hope that the Court respects the right of the American people in each state to decide this issue through the democratic process.
Equality Utah Executive Director Troy Williams
We are excited that the issue of marriage is finally now before the Supreme Court. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Every committed same-sex couple should enjoy the same rights and liberties as our heterosexual counterparts. Our nation will become a more perfect union when all Americans enjoy the freedom to marry who they love.
Utah Attorney General’s Office
Finally, the Supreme Court of the United States can put to rest the unanswered questions of United States v. Windsor (2012) regarding a state’s power to define marriage in our federal system and whether any state must, in all cases, recognize marriages performed in any other state.
Although Utah’s case is not one of the four cases heard, Kitchen v. Herbert was necessary in the national dialogue to resolve unsettled law. We are pleased that the Court has chosen to hear arguments on this historic challenge and to ultimately make it possible for all citizens to have clarity and resolution.
Utah Pride Center
As the Supreme Court begins deliberations on the marriage equality case heard before the justices this this morning the Utah Pride Center joins all individuals in the State of Utah and across the country who believe that access to marriage for LGBTQ individuals is a fundamental human right.
Today is an historic moment in the fight for marriage equality and LGBTQ rights in the United States of America. For our community in Utah this will be a defining moment in the life-long work towards equality. It is our belief that very soon marriage equality will become a settled question and the law of the land in the entirety of the United States of America.
Sen. Mike Lee via Facebook
I attended the oral arguments today at the Supreme Court for the case they were hearing on same-sex marriage. I was encouraged that the Court appeared rightly concerned with the significance of state responsibilities for the definition and regulation of marriage, but it wasn’t clear from the arguments which way the Court will rule.
The current debate about same-sex marriage does not change the fact that marriage policy should be decided by the people and their representatives, not dictated by unelected judges.
In recent years, voters in more than 30 states, including Utah, have passed amendments to their state constitutions that define marriage as an exclusively male-female institution. In 11 other states, the people have chosen to redefine marriage to include same-sex relationships.
The democratic process has yielded a diversity of outcomes because there is no consensus regarding the definition of marriage. The country is obviously in the process of making up its mind. The Supreme Court should not short-circuit that democratic process by substituting the views of five judges for those of 320 million people.
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