Seattle erupts with pride after Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage



SEATTLE -- It’s a day many gay couples thought they'd never see in their lifetime.

In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court  ruled that same-sex marriage is legal in every state.

 

In his majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote: "They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."

With the Supreme Court’s decision, you can expect Seattle’s pride celebration this weekend to be even bigger and louder.

Tone Stowers and Jason Coats did some last-minute shopping Friday for their upcoming vows.

“My phone was exploding. I cried for about half an hour,” Coats said.

He cried tears of joy that his wedding to another man is now recognized as a constitutional right and legal in all 50 states.

“It’s been a very emotional morning, just seeing how everybody is responding,” Coats said.

The couple came to Washington from Missouri, a state that banned gay marriages.
On Saturday, they will marry on a Washington state ferry from Bainbridge to Seattle.

“We found out that they are flying the (gay pride) flags on the ferry and the timing of the decision, it’s overwhelming,” Coats said.

Same-sex marriage supporters erupted into cheers across the nation, including Western Washington.

King County Executive Dow Constantine raised the pride flag hours after the court’s historic decision.

“We are all created equal and entitled to equal protection,” Constantine said.

The ruling finally ends the struggle for equal rights for so many.

"It means if I can find a partner I can marry them. If you have any leads, let me know,” Randy Wiger joked.

For some, the decision is a threat to their beliefs about marriage.

“The definition of marriage today was forced upon the entire nation by the Supreme Court; 51 million people in 31 states voted for constitutional amendments that defined marriage between a man and a woman,” Joseph Backholm said.

Backholm, executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, says the debate is not over.

“As Roe v. Wade didn’t end the national debate over abortion, this is not going to end the national debate over marriage,” Backholm said.

But for Tone and Jason, it's a moment you can never take back.

“It’s a piece of paper that says I am normal and I am like everybody else,” Tone said.