HATTIESBURG, MISS– The U.S. Supreme Court rules same-sex marriage a constitutional right in all 50 states. And in Mississippi, couples are heading to the courthouse to get married.
“This is a historic day,” says Brandilynne Dear, “my wife is now my wife in the state that I live in.”
Dear is a pastor and the president of the Dandelion Project, an LGBT advocacy group.
“We’re sitting here with a couple now, and we’re headed to the courthouse to get them married in just a few minutes,” says Dear.
But Dear says this isn’t just about marriage, it’s about love.
“Love has won today,” says Dear, “lives across the country are changed, dreams have come true, and we couldn’t be happier.”
Governor Phil Bryant released a statement regarding that decision today, saying that defining the terms of marriage within the borders of the state is a right that was taken away.
“Today, a federal court has usurped that right to self-governance and has mandated that states must comply with federal marriage standards,” says Governor Bryant, “standards that are out of step with the wishes of many in the United States and that are certainly out of step with the majority of Mississippians.”
A statement was also released by Attorney General Jim Hood, which has prolonged the marriage process for same sex couples in Mississippi.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is not effective immediately in Mississippi. It will become effective in Mississippi, and circuit clerks will be required to issue same-sex marriage licenses, when the 5th Circuit lifts the stay of Judge Reeves’ order,” says Hood, “This could come quickly or may take several days.The 5th Circuit might also choose not to lift the stay and instead issue and order, which could take considerably longer before it becomes effective.”
