WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement today after the Supreme Court announced that it will not review the seven petitions on circuit court decisions overturning state bans on same-sex marriage. These lower-court decisions will go into effect and effectively allow same-sex marriages to be held in Indiana, Wisconsin, Utah, Oklahoma, and Virginia. This decision will also open the door for same-sex marriages to be potentially held in six other states within these circuits.
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court continues the wave of progress towards marriage equality we have made since the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act was finally struck down last year. With these state bans overturned, same-sex couples will soon be able to legally marry in 24 states and the District of Columbia, and other state bans could soon fall by the wayside as well. I applaud this sweeping step forward and pledge to continue fighting until all LGBT couples, in every corner of our nation, can marry the person they love and receive the rights and benefits they deserve.”