The United States Supreme Court heard oral
argument today in the landmark Tennessee marriage equality cases and
cases from three other states that could bring the freedom to marry to
every state across the country when the Court rules by the end of June.
The
Tennessee plaintiffs are Dr. Valeria Tanco and Dr. Sophy Jesty; Army
Reserve Sergeant First Class Ijpe DeKoe and Thom Kostura; and Matthew
Mansell and Johno Espejo. They are represented by the National Center
for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Tennessee attorneys Abby Rubenfeld, Maureen
Holland, and Regina Lambert, William Harbison and other attorneys from
the Nashville law firm of Sherrard & Roe PLC, and Douglas
Hallward-Driemeier and other attorneys from the law firm of Ropes &
Gray LLP. Hallward-Driemeier and GLAD’s Mary Bonauto argued on behalf of
the plaintiffs in the four cases.
Said
Tanco, who has a 1-year-old daughter with Jesty: “Sophy and I are
overwhelmed and grateful to be part of this historic case. We have
received so much support from our family, friends, and neighbors in
Tennessee, and we are hopeful the Court will recognize the harms caused
to our family and so many others by the discriminatory laws in Tennessee
and other states that exclude same-sex couples from the protections of
marriage.”
Said
Hallward-Driemeier, who argued on behalf of the plaintiffs: "It is an
incredible honor to represent these devoted couples, who have already
been lawfully married and established new families, in arguing to
vindicate their right to have the states respect their marriages. The
plaintiffs in these cases reflect the broad array of couples, from those
together for three decades to those just starting young families, and
the many instances in which married couples must cross state lines to
work for a new employer, give birth at the nearest hospital, or seek out
new opportunities. These couples deserve the same respect and stability
that states grant other married couples and their families throughout
every phase of life.”
Said
NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter: “Today is historic and we are
hopeful the Supreme Court will bring an end to the harms that same-sex
couples and their children face when they are treated with such callous
disregard for their equal dignity and security as families. Only the
Supreme Court can resolve this conflict and affirm that the Constitution
guarantees all Americans the freedom to marry and to have their
marriages respected regardless of whether they live.”