Supreme Court allows same-sex marriage

In a landmark decision, a sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Friday that same-sex marriages are legal in all fifty states.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, as he had in earlier cases on gay marriage, wrote the majority opinion; he said simply that same-sex couples want to be treated equally.

"They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law," Kennedy wrote for the majority. "The Constitution grants them that right."

ajc.com

Credit: Jamie Dupree

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Credit: Jamie Dupree

President Obama quickly weighed in on the decision, using the hashtag "Love Wins" in a message on Twitter.

On the other side, the dissent was led by Chief Justice John Roberts, who blasted the court's majority for this decision.

Also chiming in was Justice Antonin Scalia, who for a second straight day belittled a majority opinion on a major issue; on Thursday he labeled the Obama health law ruling "pure applesauce" - on gay marriage his written jab involved a fortune cookie.

ajc.com

Credit: Jamie Dupree

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Credit: Jamie Dupree

You can read the entire ruling on same-sex marriage here.