Gays and lesbians across the US are celebrating the US Supreme Court ruling on June 26 that effectively strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8.
The international gay rights organization All Out has released a special video project “commemorating this powerful moment, featuring everyday people reacting to the victory and telling the world what marriage equality means to them personally.”
“This is an emotional and powerful moment for so many couples in the United States, who will finally have the equal protection they deserve from the federal government, and for couples in California who now have full marriage equality,” says Andre Banks, executive director and co-founder of All Out.
From creating petitions to organizing flash mobs, the US-based All Out works in the online community to mobilize people and their social networks to build a global movement.
“We join in celebration and renew our commitment to fight for full equality for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people and their families all over the world. All Out’s 1.7 million members are building a world where no person has to sacrifice their family, safety, freedom or dignity because of who they are or who they love,” Banks says.
“It allows us to make the decision as any other couple would if we’d prefer to live in one place if one place has better job opportunities . . . rather than we can stay here because Sylvie can’t get a visa,” one couple in the video says.
One man is more cautious: “I really worry that the moment this is done we’re going to forget about all the other issues, like homeless youth and transgender rights . . . there’s a lot left to do.”
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