Sudbury Pride chair 'overjoyed' by U.S. marriage ruling

When the city's LGBT community gathers for Pride Week next month, they'll celebrate today's ruling by the United States Supreme Court that grants same-sex couples the right to marriage nationwide.

Before the ruling, which passed 5-4, same-sex marriage was legal in 36 of the 50 states, as well as in Washington, D.C. It's now legal in all 50 states.

Same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide in Canada for just under a decade. On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

“I'm really happy for everyone in the States,” said Katherine Smith, chair of Sudbury Pride, adding she's “overjoyed” by the ruling.

“I would encourage everyone to remember that although this is an incredible win ... there are places in the world where their right to get married is the least of their concern, because they aren't even allowed to be alive right now.

“So we need to remember that, of course. But as the LGBT community does, we celebrate while we fight. We always have pride even when we're fighting.”

Smith said her family has a house in Florida that she and her wife haven't visited because she didn't feel she could support an economy “that doesn't support my life.”

Now that same-sex marriage is legal in Florida and across the United States, “I think Disney World might see a whole bunch of new queer people coming,” Smith said.

So given that same-sex marriage was legalized in Canada a decade ago, why has it taken the United States so long to follow suit? Smith said she thinks it's because for Americans, religion and politics are closely tied.

Even with the Supreme Court ruling, she predicts same-sex marriage in the United States will face challenges.

Some opponents say same-sex marriage legality should be decided by states, not judges, while others say marriage is between a man and a woman.

According to the Globe and Mail, during the court's April 28 oral arguments, a protester in the courtroom shouted at the justices that they would “burn in hell” if they backed gay marriage.

“The religious people won't be able to hold their tongues,” Smith said. “They will have to challenge it ... They will question what we're going to do to the sanctity of marriage and all that ridiculousness, and rhetoric.”

Today's ruling gives the city's LGBT community even more reason to celebrate during Pride Week, which runs July 17-25, she said.

“Come out and celebrate to say that you think it's awesome,” Smith said. “Come out and help us fight even more and make sure that the U.S. Supreme Court sees the support that they've gotten for that decision.”

Learn more about Pride Week at www.sudburypride.com.