Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority, Inc. Hails the Supreme Court’s Decision to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide

After a long, hard-fought legal battle, marriage quality has finally come to America. In a landmark 5-4 ruling on June 26^th, 2015 the Supreme Court announced that the union of marriage is the constitutional right of every American citizen – whether heterosexual or homosexual.

Kappa Theta Epsilon applauds the high court for the just and well-reasoned decision reached today.

“These astute men and women heard the arguments, and decided that the cause of human dignity outweighs all bias and rhetoric to the contrary,” a member of the Sorority’s Alpha Chapter, said today. “We salute them for being on the right side of history.”

In his statement of the affirmative opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that,

“It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

As it so often has, the Court rendered a decision in lock-step with the progress of public opinion over the last ten years. In less than a decade, the tide has turned on the issue of marriage equality, with the majority of Americans in favor and 36 states having already legalized same-sex unions.

Over the course of the last 40 years, our cause has sped on. July will mark the 35^th anniversary of the Democratic Rules Committee’s vote to expressly prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians. Fifteen years ago, Vermont became the first state to legalize civil unions. Massachusetts followed four years later as the first to legalize marriage. Less than 15 years ago (2003) the Court declared sodomy laws unconstitutional, thereby essentially decriminalizing homosexuality. The progress we’ve made has been extraordinary.

The dream of our foremothers and fathers has been realized – within many of their lifetimes. The Sorority also honors these trailblazers, as this victory would not be possible if not for their years of courage and sacrifice.

“Yes, this is a historic day for the LGBT community, and a victory for all of us,” said K. Edwards, Sorority Director of Communications. “It memorializes the work of so many — this moment especially belongs to them. As proud members of the LGBT community, we’re incredibly grateful.”

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Kappa Theta Epsilon Sorority, Incorporated is a social, service sorority for professional and entrepreneurial lesbian women. Founded in 2009, the organization develops programs to train LGBT community leaders, and advance the academic, economic, social and political interests of LGBT people in communities across the nation.