Politics & Government
Fisette: DOMA Ruling 'Important Step' Toward Marriage Equality
Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Jay Fisette became Virginia's first openly gay elected official in 1997.
Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Jay Fisette, who in 1997 became Virginia's first openly gay elected official, called Wednesday's Supreme Court rulings "another important step toward the inevitability of marriage equality."
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which means the federal government can no longer discriminate against same-sex married couples. The high court also made it possible for same-sex marriages to resume in California.
"This is another historic day," Fisette told Patch in an email.
"The country is changing, communities are changing and Virginia will change," Fisette said. "The openness and honesty of LGBT Americans has provided an opportunity for our friends, families and co-workers to shed their fears and recognize that our sexual orientation is not a choice… but a discovery… and thus does not justify punishment or discrimination."
He added: "Today's youth and young adults have grown up without the fear and prejudice of earlier generations. It's a good thing. Today was a terrific day for our country and for fairness."
A number of elected officials chimed in on the landmark decisions.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner on Twitter called the decisions "huge victories" but said much work still needs to be done for true marriage equality. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., tweeted that the Supreme Court "finally recognizes that we're all worthy of equal protection under the law" in striking down DOMA.
The news dominated the popular social networking site, with Twitter announcing huge spikes in traffic immediately following the first ruling Wednesday morning.
Aside from #DOMA, hashtags like #MarriageEquality and #LoveIsLove were trending worldwide; President Barack Obama himself used the latter one in a celebratory tweet sent to 33 million people.
More:
- Down with DOMA: Live Feed of Local Reactions
- Supreme Court Rulings: Virginia Politicians React
- DOMA is Unconstitutional: Do You Agree?
- Supreme Court Gay Marriage Rulings: The Implications
"DOMA is unjust, un-American, and out of step with the values of our country. Beginning today, same-sex couples in the 12 freedom to marry states will be eligible for the federal protections and responsibilities afforded all other married couples," he said.
“Our nation has a long history of fighting to overcome discrimination to secure civil rights for all citizens. I hope this decision gives momentum to efforts across the country to enshrine marriage equality into our laws. Discrimination has no place in our country."
He added: “The Declaration of Independence affirms that 'all men are created equal' and that every American has a right to 'the pursuit of happiness.' These principles cannot be fulfilled without the ability to marry the person you love.”
Patch Editor Mary Ann Barton contributed to this report.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
