Obama praises the legalization of gay marriage: 'Real change is possible'

On the day the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that gay marriage is a constitutional right, President Obama praised not just the efforts of the courts, but the efforts of "countless anonymous heroes" who "slowly made an entire country realize that love is love." With the court ruling that same-sex couples have the right to marry in all 50 states, the notion that all people should be treated equally "regardless of who they are and who they like" has been reaffirmed.
Today we can say, in no uncertain terms, that we made our union a little more perfect. That's the consequence of a decision from the Supreme Court, but more importantly, it's the consequence of people who stood up. Who came out. Who talked to parents. Parents who loved their children no matter what. Folks who were willing to endure bullying and taunts. What a vindication of the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. What a reminder of what Bobby Kennedy once said about how small actions can be like pebbles thrown into a still lake. Ripples of hope cascade outwards and change the world. Those countless, often anonymous heroes, they deserve our thanks. They should be very proud. America should be very proud. [Obama]
Friday's Supreme Court ruling is the biggest ruling the court has made since the 1967 case of Loving v. Virginia that struck down state bans on interracial marriages. The ruling comes on a historic day for gay rights: Friday is exactly 46 years to the day that the Stonewall Inn riots effectively launched the movement for same-sex equality.
"Real change is possible," the president said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
June 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's golden comb-over, brain drain in America, and a new TACO presidential seal.
-
5 cartoons about the TACO trade
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on America's tariffs, Vladimir Putin waiting for taco Tuesday, and a new presidential seal
-
A city of culture in the high Andes
The Week Recommends Cuenca is a must-visit for those keen to see the 'real Ecuador'
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
Trump pauses all new foreign student visas
speed read The State Department has stopped scheduling interviews with those seeking student visas in preparation for scrutiny of applicants' social media
-
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
speed read Former sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison on federal bribery and fraud charges