The president of the group CNY Pride says the supreme court’s ruling supporting same sex marriage is probably the most the LGBT community can hope for within the realm of marriage and the rights that come with it. Dr. Bruce Carter is also an Assistant Professor in the Psychology and Child and Family Studies Departments at Syracuse University's Falk College.
He says the decision is consistent with similar cases recognizing the rights of individuals. He cites Justice Anthony Kennedy’s reasoning in the decision…
"He talks about it as a fundamental right within the constitutional process, that this nation is founded on a variety of principles, one of which is the princople that that families and couples are joined in marriage, and that to deny a whole group of people access to that fundamental right is wrong."
But carter says that doesn’t mean protection of religious beliefs goes out the window. He says the ruling maintains the separation of church and state.
"Ministers or priests or rabbis or whatever their religious affiliation are not going to be required to marry same sex couples. That would actually violate the first amendment of the constitution. churches can't be forced to hold wedding services for folks that they don't wish to marry. That's been going on for a long time. There are heterosexuals who can't marry in the Catholic Church because they are divorced."
Even so, Carter expects opponents to find ways to overturn the high court’s decision.
"There are a variety of conservative politicians who now want to change the constitution to state that same sex marriage cannot be allowed, and to now allow same sex marriage would be constitutional. This would reverse the decision that the court had made."
Carter believes political fervor will foment around the issue for some time, much like the debate over Roe vs. Wade has simmered for over 40 years.
