Nevadans cheer court ruling on gay marriage
CARSON CITY — Mary Baranovich, who married her longtime partner, Beverly Sevcik, in January when gay marriage was legalized in Nevada by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was awakened Friday to the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had resolved the issue nationally in a 5-4 ruling in support of same-sex marriage.
“That is wonderful,” she said. “It was worth being wakened up for.”
Baranovich, who with Sevcik were lead plaintiffs in a successful challenge of Nevada’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, called obtaining the monumental decision a “long struggle.”
“This is going to make a lot of people happy,” she said. “It was bound to happen. Some people will be unhappy, but they will have to get over it.”
Nevadans reacted mostly favorably to the landmark ruling.
State Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, D-Las Vegas, who came out as gay during a floor speech on the proposed same-sex marriage amendment in 2013, said he was thrilled with the decision because he has friends in states such as Georgia and Tennessee who will now be able to marry after years of being together.
Atkinson, who married his partner Sherwood Howard on the Clark County marriage bureau steps last October, said many people fought for equal rights well before him.
“I was not always for same-sex marriage,” he said. “I grappled with it. I didn’t understand it 10 years ago. But to see people come full circle; to see the Supreme Court doing this; I can’t tell you how thrilled I am.”
About 400 people — some waving rainbow flags, holding signs and wearing shirts in support of the decision — packed the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada for a celebration rally Friday afternoon.
With Macklemore’s “Same Love” blaring in the background, gay and lesbian couples at the rally expressed gratitude and relief for a ruling they said was long overdue.
“It’s just nice not feeling like a second-class citizen,” said Nancie O’Neill, 60, who attended the rally with 18-year partner, Kristine Kuzemka, 53.
“It’s justice,” added Kuzemka, holding back tears. “It took us almost a half-century to get here.”
Josh Miller, 39, and husband Steve Amend, 41, married last month in Sante Fe, New Mexico after a 13-year partnership. Their 5-year-old son, Caden, sat on Amend’s shoulders during the rally waving a sign with “Love Wins” written on the front.
“We’re ecstatic,” Miller said, “and especially happy for our friends across the country where marriage wasn’t legal.”
While he was expecting a favorable ruling from the court, LGBT Center CEO Michael Dimengo said there was no way to know that it would be as sweepingly favorable as it was.
“I am certainly overjoyed at the result,” he said.
While a celebration is definitely in order, Dimengo said advocates for equality don’t want to become complacent about the need for further work to end discrimination in all forms.
“We need to press on,” he said. “There are many in the community who are talking about civil rights legislation similar to what we saw in the racial rights movement.”
Gov. Brian Sandoval said the ruling confirms Nevada’s position that same-sex marriage bans are no longer defensible.
“The highest court in the land has decided the issue once and for all for Nevada and for our nation,” Sandoval said in a written statement. “This decision has a deeply personal impact on many Nevadans and marks a significant moment in our nation’s history. The issue of same-sex marriage is settled in Nevada and we must move forward together, as the Nevada family.”
Tod Story, executive director of the ACLU of Nevada, said the ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges means that all Americans are free to marry the person they love.
“This historic decision finds that the Constitution grants ‘equal dignity in the eyes of the law,’ for same-sex couples,” Story said. “Today we celebrate the love and lives of the LGBT community and their allies who fought to make this day a reality.”
State Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, a main sponsor of a the 2013 legislative resolution calling on voters to repeal Nevada’s ban, said the proposal was hugely controversial when it was introduced.
“Now it is the law of the land,” he said.
Segerblom said the ruling is also a big win for Nevada’s marriage industry.
“So it is an economic win for Nevada, too,” he said.
The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada said many Nevadans were at the forefront of the same-sex marriage fight, “demanding dignity and respect for their families.”
“Today, with the help of the courts, the arc of history is bending just a little bit farther toward justice,” the statement said. “This morning we make history, tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we continue to organize to win full equality, dignity and respect for all Nevadans.”
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid issued this statement in response to the historic decision: “Today the Supreme Court ruled on the right side of history. In every state in our great union, officials will be required to issue the same marriage licenses to loving and committed same-sex couples that straight couples have always been entitled to receive. Every same-sex couple in America now knows that their government will recognize, protect and value their love and commitment.”
U.S. Sen. Dean Heller offered this statement on the ruling: “I personally believe marriage is between a man and a woman. However, I represent Nevadans of many beliefs, and it’s important to be respectful of differing viewpoints on this matter. That is why I respect the decision handed down today by the United States Supreme Court.”
Review-Journal writer Chris Kudialis contributed to this report. Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801
