Congressman Garamendi Celebrates Marriage Equality Victories

Statement

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), a longtime proponent of equal rights for all Americans, today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, and issued a procedural ruling in the Proposition 8 case that allows a lower court decision striking down Proposition 8 to take effect, allowing same-sex marriages to resume in the State of California:

"American history can be read as a gradual expansion of true equality under the law. Today, the arc of history bent further toward justice.

"I have long believed that all loving couples deserve the freedom to marry. Hundreds of thousands of LGBT Americans are building a life together, raising children, and are part of the fabric of communities throughout our nation. They deserve all the same rights that my wife Patti and I have, and I'm glad we're one step closer to a country that treats everyone with dignity and respect.

"Marriage equality is now legal in California and federal marriage benefits have been expanded to married same sex couples throughout the country. Love wins every time and the march toward a fairer, more just America continues.

"We are a country that celebrates the ideal of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone. Today, we came even closer to making that ideal a reality.

"This past weekend, I went to Philadelphia with my family and we visited the location of the Continental Congress, where the Constitution was written as a living, breathing document that could not foresee the issues of the future but provided a mechanism to resolve these issues. Our continued progress toward the fundamental values enshrined in this document is what makes our country great."

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