Reform Movement Calls for Marriage Equality in Advance of SCOTUS Arguments

Contact: Max Rosenblum or Jordan Dashow
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Washington, D.C., April 28, 2015 – On the occasion of today's oral arguments in the marriage equality cases collectively known as Obergefell v. Hodges, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:

Today, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether the fourteenth amendment requires states to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize marriages between people of the same sex performed in other states. Reflecting our Reform Movement’s longstanding commitment to civil marriage equality, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis and Women of Reform Judaism joined amici briefs in support of the freedom to marry. We hope that the Justices will be moved by the oral arguments today to establish the long overdue right to marriage equality as the law of the land across the United States.

In my many years as a congregational rabbi, I heard the stories of too many same-sex couples who were denied the wide range of benefits that many straight couples take for granted, such as the ability to adopt, to be listed on a spouse's death certificate, or to make health care decisions for a sick spouse. Yet, today’s case is not just about the freedom to marry and the many legal benefits and obligations that come with it; it’s about love, dignity, and equality. Genesis 1:27 teaches that all human beings are created in the image of the Divine, b’tzelem Elohim. We have an obligation to treat all people equally, with dignity and respect, as every human being, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have that divine spark. All people deserve equality under the law.

No matter how the Court rules in today’s cases, the larger fight for LGBT equality remains in our hands. Employment, housing, and public accommodations discrimination is still a reality for too many LGBT Americans and school students in too many schools nationwide know the terror of being bullied because of who they are.  Even as we look forward from today’s Court case with the hope that marriage equality will soon be a reality, all of us have a duty to raise our voices and urge Congress to pass comprehensive non-discrimination and anti-bullying protections for LGBT people. Until LGBT people achieve both legal and lived equality, the Reform Movement will continue to advocate for the rights of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.