Rep. Antonio issues statement on historic Supreme Court ruling
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. The historic 5-4 decision overturns a 6th Circuit Court case brought by Ohio native Jim Obergefell and invalidates bans on same-sex marriage across the country, including the one in Ohio. Rep. Antonio issued this statement following the court’s historic ruling:
"I join all Ohioans in applauding today's decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to grant all couples the right to marry if they so choose. From this day forward, all families – including families like mine – have the opportunity to experience the full depth and breadth of constitutional equality and the freedom to celebrate the love that binds our family, and all families – including those of same sex couples.
“This ruling gives me hope that sometime in the near future, Jean Kosmac, my partner of 21 years, and I will gather our daughters, friends and family and legally marry - a decision the State of Ohio has denied to us until today. We have much work to do to achieve full equality for members of the LGBT community, but this decision affirms our families and grants them the dignity and respect we have sought for ourselves and our children.”