Community Corner
Long Beach Reacts to High Court Finding on Gay Marriage
DOMA Found Unconstitutional, and locals respond.
By Nancy Wride and Samantha Katzman
Long Beach supporters of same-sex marriage were rejoicing on Wednesday as the U.S. Supreme court delivered a historic ruling deeming the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act as discriminatory.
“I'm super excited that they ruled the way they did on DOMA because I think it opens up the larger discussion on what needs to happen with everything," said Angie Hendrix, director of the Long Beach chapter of PFLAG. Hendrix and her partner Jo are expecting their first child and have already been married in other jurisdictions.
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Local Long Beach residents Kim Purdy and Sami Reed were elated with the news as well. Purdy woke up to a call from Reed telling her the news.
“She called me this morning with the news that she would have to get ordained, so that was how the news was broken to me,” Purdy said, “When I realized what she was saying I just started crying I was just so ecstatic -- I am engaged and getting married in September.”
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Reed added, “There’s just no better feeling than equality.”
Reed, who got married to her wife in 2008 during the brief months of legal marriage in California, remembers the feelings of discrimination she felt during that time.
“That feeling of equality was there and then it was taken away… it was just bittersweet,” she said.
But for now, most are celebrating what todays decision means for progress in America.
“In my opinion this day is going to go down in history as a historical day. Its something I will never forget to say the least,” said Purdy.
And officials in the city weighed in, as well.
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster:“Today is a monumental day that will change, for the better, the lives of friends and families throughout our great State and makes our Nation stronger.”
Long Beach City Council Member and Vice Mayor Robert Garcia, the city's first openly gay Latino councilman, on Prop. 8 and DOMA:
"Today is a great day for America, and for our state. Citizens across California will now have the ability to marry the person they love, and be recognized by the federal government. Long Beach has always been a welcoming place for everyone, and I look forward to welcoming same-sex couples at City Hall as they choose to marry their partners. Equality and fairness have won the day."
Long Beach City Council Member Patrick O’Donnell on the Supreme Court Ruling on Proposition 8:
“This is a monumental day for California and for our country. There was no rational moral or legal basis to reject same-sex marriage and to deny this right is to deny the principles of our Constitution. The Supreme Court has affirmed the fight our LGBTQ community has fought for years. Today we celebrate marriage equality!"
Patch will update as we get reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's Wednesday decision announcement. Do you agree with it? Tell us in comments. And stay connected with Belmont Shore-Naples Patch throughout the day with our daily newsletter, breaking news alerts, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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