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Supreme Court rules on same-sex marriage: Joy, defiance and questions result

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Before this morning's Supreme Court ruling, same-sex couples could marry in 36 states and District of Columbia. Within hours of the decision, weddings were taking place in new states (at least in some counties): Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, as well as North and South Dakota.

Justices, in their landmark 5-4 decision, had ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage that can't be denied by state law.

President Obama, who called the decision a ‘victory for America,’ was among those cheering the move.

But opponents of same-sex marriage expressed deep disappointment.

Wedding bells have yet to ring in Mississippi and Lousiana. Mississippi's attorney general said same-sex couples there will have to wait for a federal appeals court to clear the way for marriage licenses to be issued.

Here's a look at the ruling and reaction so far:

 

West Hollywood officials speak at #LoveWins Rally

West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran gave an emotional speech at Friday's celebratory rally.

He spoke about the struggles of the AIDS crisis and said this night was for those who fought and died in this same location, West Hollywood. Duran is HIV-positive and openly gay, and he lost numerous friends to the disease.

"And now here we are. The price we have paid is high, but the victory is so sweet."

-- Hailey Branson-Potts

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Tonight, in West Hollywood, we celebrate with open hearts and a broad vision of love.
John Duran, West Hollywood city councilman

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North Hollywood couple tearfully rejoice at Decision Day rally

Same-sex marriage and gay rights advocates joined together at West Hollywood Park on June 26 to celebrate the Supreme Court's landmark decision.

Same-sex marriage and gay rights advocates joined together at West Hollywood Park on June 26 to celebrate the Supreme Court’s landmark decision.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

North Hollywood residents Edward Danfifer, 51, and Stacy Johnson, 46, wore T-shirts that said, "Mr. & Mr. - April 9, 2016" -- the date of the men's upcoming marriage in Topanga.

Danfifer came out in 1981, amid the devastation of AIDS. He had tears in his eyes as he talked, looking around at the rainbow flag-toting crowd around him. When he came out, "we were concerned with living. Everyone was dying. We were fighting for the right to live, fighting for medication. I didn't think I'd live to be 25, let alone 50. Today is just -- it's an amazing day." The song "That's the Power of Love" blared over the loudspeakers.

Johnson came out in 1992 when he was in the Navy in spite of policies against gays serving in the military. He saw the news of the Supreme Court decision Friday morning on Facebook. Then his phone died because so many congratulatory texts came in, the most touching of which came from straight friends in his small conservative hometown in West Virginia.

"Oh my god, I cried," Johnson said.

The men started dating 17 months ago, and for the first year they went to the same restaurant in the NoHo Arts District every month. Danfifer proposed during a vacation to Costa Rica this April with a restaurant dessert tray that had "Stacy, will you?" written in frosting. He got down on one knee. Johnson said yes and immediately picked out a date and started planning the wedding details.

-- Hailey Branson-Potts

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West Hollywood celebration is emotion-filled

Hundreds of people gathered at West Hollywood Park on Friday night to celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage. Rally-goers expressed joy but also sadness, as the day coincided with the Rev. Clementa Pinckney's funeral.

-- Hailey Branson-Potts

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With a sea of rainbows, West Hollywood celebration kicks off

At one of many local celebrations of today's Supreme Court ruling, hundreds gathered for a rally in West Hollywood that began this evening.

From the archives: Nation's first predominantly gay church was founded in L.A.

(L.A. Times archives)

Los Angeles Times Archives

In this Dec. 9, 1969, article, Los Angeles Times religion writer John Dart profiles Metropolitan Community Church, the nation's first predominantly gay church with an openly gay pastor.

The church, founded in 1968 by the Rev. Troy Perry, is also believed to be where the first public same-sex wedding ceremony took place, according to historians and church members.

While the article describes a church in many ways ahead of its time, some parts of the article hark back to a time when society was much less accepting, even for those in "the increasingly outspoken homosexual community in Los Angeles."

At one point in a Sunday service, for example, Perry draws laughter after asking congregants to give real names because leaders were having trouble contacting them.

"Although most of the members are not ashamed of their homosexuality, many fear public disclosure -- sometimes because it could cause them to be discharged from their jobs," Dart wrote.

Perry summed up the purpose of his church in the article's final quote.

"'Most churches in America don't openly invite homosexuals as homosexuals to come and worship God,'" Perry said. "'They feel if anything, they have to change the person and convert him from his homosexuality to make him a fit member for their church -- and that's just impossible.'"

-- Taylor Goldenstein

In response to ruling, Ted Cruz says justices should face re-election

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas speaks during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee meeting called "Rewriting the Law, Examining the Process That Led to the Obamacare Subsidy Rule."

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas speaks during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee meeting called “Rewriting the Law, Examining the Process That Led to the Obamacare Subsidy Rule.”

(Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

After back-to-back Supreme Court rulings defeated conservative opposition to the Affordable Care Act and same-sex marriage, Sen. Ted Cruz called for the high court's justices to face retention elections on Friday.

Cruz, part of a crowded field of Republican presidential contenders, announced he would propose the constitutional amendment in an article published in the conservative-leaning National Journal Friday evening.

Under the proposal, justices would face "periodic judicial retention elections" coinciding with the second national election after their appointment. They would then face re-election every eight years, Cruz wrote.

The measure would provide Americans with the tools to "remedy the problem of judicial activism and the means for throwing off judicial tyrants," Cruz wrote.

-- James Queally

Robin Abcarian: A new, imaginary class of victims

As Robin Abcarian notes, Justice Samuel Alito fretted today in his dissent that it won't be safe to knock gay marriage anymore.

I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes, but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools.
Justice Samuel Alito

Abcarian thinks Alito veers dangerously close to Scalia-style hysteria when he worries that legalizing same-sex marriage will unleash an urge for retribution.

Recalling the harsh treatment of gays and lesbians in the past, some may think that turn-about is fair play. But if that sentiment prevails, the Nation will experience bitter and lasting wounds.
Alito

She asks: "How can he fail to grasp that the nation has already experienced bitter and lasting wounds from the despicable way it has treated its gay citizens? The affronts, insults and murders over the last half century are far too numerous to recount."

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. compared a smartphone to a billfold.

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. compared a smartphone to a billfold.

(Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

(Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

At long last, marriage equality in the U.S. .... We started that movement right here when Gavin Newsom dared to marry loving same-sex couples right under this dome. We are proud of our city leading the nation and even the world on this issue.”
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, speaking at S.F. City Hall

Tech companies turn bright after marriage ruling

Some of the nation's largest tech firms, many of which have long advocated for marriage equality in the U.S., draped the Internet in a rainbow hue in support of the Supreme Court's ruling on Friday.

Tweets using the hashtag #LoveWins were automatically joined by a rainbow-streaked heart. Facebook gave users the option to impose rainbow stripes over their profile picture. Even Uber added little rainbows to the cars traveling along its app's map layout.

You can read more about Friday's colorful day in the tech world here .

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Namesake of case carries painful tale

There were more than 30 plaintiffs in lawsuits that put same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court.

But the one that became the namesake of the consolidated cases has an unusual and poignant story involving love, sickness, death, and a single word on a piece of paper.

Jim Obergefell and his partner, John Arthur, had been together for 20 years. After Arthur was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, the couple wed on a medical charter jet on a tarmac in Baltimore, Md.

A federal judge later ordered Ohio to stamp the word "married" on Arthur's death certificate. Arthur died Oct. 22, three months after the wedding, but Ohio appealed the ruling and won.

After the decision Friday, President Obama called to congratulate Obergefell -- as he was being interviewed live on CNN.

"Thank you so much, Mr. President," he said. "It's really been an honor for me to be involved in this fight and to have been able to fight for my marriage and live up to my commitments to my husband."

--Timothy M. Phelps and Christine Mai-Duc

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Louisiana delays issuing same-sex marriage licenses

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks during Florida Governor Rick Scott's Economic Growth Summit in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on June 2. Although he has not yet officially announced his candidacy, Jindal is expected to join the crowded field vying for the Republican nomination.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks during Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Economic Growth Summit in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on June 2. Although he has not yet officially announced his candidacy, Jindal is expected to join the crowded field vying for the Republican nomination.

(Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press

Louisiana Atty. Gen. Buddy Caldwell said in a statement Friday that his office "has found nothing in today's decision that makes the Court's order effective immediately."

By law, parties to the Supreme Court case have 25 days to file a motion to have the high court reconsider the case.

According to The Times-Picayune , the Louisiana Clerks of Court Assn. advised clerks to wait.

Gov. Bobby Jindal has also condemned the ruling, saying it violated 1st Amendment rights.

-- Taylor Goldenstein

What about tax exemptions?

Could a church-related institution, such as a college, lose its tax exemption for refusing to give equal treatment to same-sex couples?

David Lauter , our Washington bureau chief, says that while it's possible that issue may arise down the road, we're a long way from that now.

Read more about how the case of Bob Jones University , which lost its tax exemption for expelling anyone who dated a person of another race, might come into play. (The Nixon administration first threatened to take away the school's tax exemption in 1970.)

A man carries a protest poster outside the Supreme Court after the justices' historic decision on same-sex marriage was announced Friday.

A man carries a protest poster outside the Supreme Court after the justices’ historic decision on same-sex marriage was announced Friday.

(Mladen Antonov / AFP/Getty Images)

(Mladen Antonov / AFP/Getty Images)

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First married same-sex couple in L.A. celebrates ruling

Robin Tyler and Diane Olsen, who became the first same-sex couple to marry in Los Angeles County in 2008, fell into a tearful embrace when they learned of the Supreme Court's ruling on Friday.

The couple spoke out about the landmark decision on Friday during a press conference with their attorney.

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Once-defrocked Methodist pastor encourages religious leaders to accept same-sex marriage

United Methodist Rev. Frank Schaefer, who was temporarily defrocked after officiating at his gay son's wedding, issued a statement Friday in support of the legalization of same-sex marriage.

"Today's court decision should unify all of us, no matter where anybody stands on the issue," Schaefer said in the statement.

Schaefer was stripped of his ordination in December 2013 after he refused to tell a church jury that he would not preside over more same-sex marriages, which Methodist law forbids.

A Methodist appeals court restored Schaefer's ministerial rights in June 2014.

In the statement, Schaefer called upon religious leaders to reconsider their long-held opposition to same-sex marriage.

"This is not the first time the religious community has made a transition toward re-interpreting sacred writings and traditions," he said. "This was the case in the abolishment of slavery, Jim Crow laws, the ban on women in the clergy, and the ban on re-marriage in cases of divorce."

-- Taylor Goldenstein

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Scenes of celebration across L.A. County

Natalie Novoa, left, and Eddie Daniels, take a selfie while waiting to get married at the L.A. County Registrar branch in Beverly Hills on the day the Supreme Court made its landmark ruling.

Natalie Novoa, left, and Eddie Daniels, take a selfie while waiting to get married at the L.A. County Registrar branch in Beverly Hills on the day the Supreme Court made its landmark ruling.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Natalie Novoa, left, and Eddie Daniels take a selfie while waiting to get married at the L.A. County Registrar branch in Beverly Hills on Friday.

Lorri L. Jean, left, chief executive of the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Hollywood, greets Michael Ferrera during a celebration at the center over the Supreme Court ruling.

Lorri L. Jean, left, chief executive of the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Hollywood, greets Michael Ferrera during a celebration at the center over the Supreme Court ruling.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Lorri L. Jean, left, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Hollywood, greets Michael Ferrera during a celebration party at the center as locals react to the ruling.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, with his back to the camera, the city's first openly gay mayor, and Mark Magdaleno, 43, of Long Beach, right, raise a gay pride flag over the Civic Plaza in response to the Supreme Court ruling.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, with his back to the camera, the city’s first openly gay mayor, and Mark Magdaleno, 43, of Long Beach, right, raise a gay pride flag over the Civic Plaza in response to the Supreme Court ruling.

(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, center, the city's first openly gay mayor, is helped by several people who joined in to raise a rainbow flag over the Civic Plaza.

Pride flying high in Long Beach

Long Beach raised the rainbow flag high among a circle of banners that fly at the Long Beach Civic Center.

"People are starting to recognize that some identities haven't been honored," said Elliot Gonzalez, 28, who serves on Long Beach's Sustainable City Commission. "Today was one step forward for a lot of people."

-- Lauren Raab

Californians to celebrate same-sex marriage decision throughout state

From San Francisco to West Hollywood, Californians are partying and rallying in support of today's historic ruling. The Los Angeles Times can point you to the celebration in your neighborhood.

Kirsty Hood, left, and Nora Tavitian celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings at the Equality California offices in West Hollywood.

Kirsty Hood, left, and Nora Tavitian celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings at the Equality California offices in West Hollywood.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

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In West Hollywood: 'We were waiting way too long'

'An amazing, momentous and profound day'

Some Alabama counties defying law, refusing same-sex marriage licenses

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore

(James Queally)

Associated Press

Several counties in Alabama are refusing to issue licenses to same-sex couples, according to the head of the ACLU in Alabama.

In an attempt to defy the ruling, several county probate judges in Alabama are refusing to issue marriage licenses to all couples — both heterosexual and homosexual — which they are allowed to do under state law, according to Susan Watson, executive director of the state ACLU. Alabama state law stipulates that probate judges “may” issue marriage licenses but they are not required to, Watson said.

Judges in Alabama can be disciplined only if they refuse to issue licenses to same-sex couples while they continue issuing licenses to heterosexual couples. Watson says four counties are engaging in such practices.

The state's two largest counties, Jefferson and Mobile counties, have begun issuing licenses, according to Watson.

Alabama has been one of the fiercest battlegrounds in the push to legalize same-sex marriage. A federal judge overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage in February, but Roy Moore, the state's chief justice, followed that ruling with an order blocking judges from issuing licenses.

-- James Queally

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Rainbows over the Big Apple

Five rainbow flags were hung on New York City Hall on Friday following the ruling.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was on hand to help marry a couple in front of the building, and a band played Mendelssohn's "Wedding March."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the 408-foot spire atop the new World Trade Center building would light up in rainbow colors in honor of the occasion. "New York has been a leader in the fight for marriage equality, and today's Supreme Court decision affirms what we have fought so hard for."

—Tina Susman and Christine Mai-Duc

Eric Garcetti: 'Today, love won'

Flanked by several city officials, including City Councilman Mike Bonin and his husband, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti became emotional while praising the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage today.

Hey, California, Justice Scalia discovers the 10th ring of hell, and we are it

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2011.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2011.

(Jewel Samad / Getty Images)

(Jewel Samad / Getty Images)

There's only one thing to do, California. I say we tear our clothes off, fill the streets and party like hell.
Steve Lopez

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Today the Supreme Court fulfilled the words engraved upon its building: 'Equal justice under the law" .... For far too long our justice system has marginalized the gay community and I am very glad the Court has finally caught up to the American people."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.)

Religious views have shifted too

Rev. Jane Spahr speaks during the "Holding Hope" worship service at University Presbyterian Church in San Antonio last Thursday before a hearing by Presbyterian leaders deciding whether to discipline Spahr for marrying same sex couples.
(Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)

Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times

Religious groups, most notably influential members of the Christian right, have been some of the staunchest opponents of gay marriage in the U.S.

But in recent years, a number of major religious sects have agreed to recognize same-sex marriage.

In March, the Presbyterian Church changed its constitution to define marriage as a "unique commitment between two people." The Episcopal Church approved blessing same-sex marriages in 2012, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church has allowed individual ministers to decide whether or not to bless gay marriages for a number of years.

-- James Queally

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The evolution of gay marriage

The legal roller coaster of same-sex marriage is over. Here is how same-sex marriage has evolved in the past 15 years:

Kyle Kim / L.A. Times Graphics

The Supreme Court has stripped all Americans of our freedom to debate and decide marriage policy through the democratic process. The freedom to democratically address the most pressing social issues of the day is the heart of liberty. The court took that freedom from the people and overrode the considered judgment of tens of millions of Americans.
Jim Campbell, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom

Rainbow flag to be raised at Long Beach City Hall

Pedestrians walk through the Long Beach Civic Center on Friday, April 4, 2014.
Pedestrians walk through the Long Beach Civic Center on Friday, April 4, 2014.
(Christina House / For The Los Angeles Times)

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia plans to raise the rainbow flag, representing gay pride, over the Long Beach Civic Plaza on Friday, he announced.

Garcia, elected in 2014, is the city's first openly gay and first Latino mayor.

In a statement, Garcia said he "could not be more proud of our country today. Love won, freedom won, and equality won. Millions of Americans — including myself and my long time partner — will finally be treated equally under the law."

Garcia says he plans to raise the flag outside City Hall around noon Friday.

-- Christine Mai-Duc

Some state leaders still delaying, or resisting, same-sex marriage

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at an event in Edinburg, Texas, on Jan. 22.
(Joel Martinez / The Monitor)

Joel Martinez / The Monitor

Elected officials and judges in some Southern states indicated that they may resist today's historic ruling.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he will issue a directive later today ordering state agencies to "prioritize the protection of Texans' religious liberties."

"No Texan is required by the Supreme Court's decision to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs,” he said in a statement.

While he acknowledged that the high court's decision is "the law of the land," Mississippi Atty. Gen. Jim Hood said Friday he would not allow licenses to be issued until a federal appeals court lifts its stay of a lower court order overturning the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Hood said it could take several days for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift its stay, and marriages will not take place in the state until that happens.

The 5th Circuit heard arguments in January about cases that overturned marriage bans in Texas and Mississippi, as well as a lower court ruling that upheld Louisiana's ban. The court did not issue an opinion in the case, choosing to wait on the Supreme Court.

In Alabama, Elmore County Probate Judge John Enslen has vowed to spend "life in prison" before he issues a marriage license to a same-sex couple.

--James Queally and Tina Susman

'Our family will have protection now'

The news that the Supreme Court had legalized same-sex marriage pleased Kristin and Jennifer Seaton-Rambo, full-time students who married last year in Arkansas while such unions were briefly legal in that state.

Even though they were already married, the ruling offered them something special, they said.

“Our family will have protection now,” they said in a telephone interview.

Kristin proposed to Jennifer on March 8, 2014, and the couple had prepared to marry in the fall.

But when the courts allowed same-sex marriage on May 9, they jumped at the chance, Jennifer said, and they were married the next day.

“I think the same-sex marriage movement is continuing and will continue to spread,” Jennifer said. “I feel it will eliminate the cycle of hate by accepting one another throughout the world.”

-- John Glionna

As California went, so went the nation

When Lorri L. Jean's wife saw the news posted on SCOTUSblog early Friday morning, they both began reading the decision together.

Within minutes, the congratulatory texts began pouring in.

The couple was married in 2008, during the brief window when same-sex marriage was legal in California, and before the passage of Proposition 8, the state's same-sex marriage ban.

Jean, chief executive of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, has lived through the decadelong roller coaster of mayoral edicts, court rulings and voter initiatives in the state.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in California since 2013.

"People always say, as California goes, so goes the nation," Jean told The Times. "Once you have marriage in such an important state as California, we knew it would help the dominoes fall."

-- Hailey Branson-Potts

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George Takei: 'Oh Happy Day!'

George Takei, right, and husband Brad Takei at the 2015 Tony Awards.

George Takei, right, and husband Brad Takei at the 2015 Tony Awards.

(Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

George Takei, right, and husband Brad Takei at the 2015 Tony Awards. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

George Takei and his husband, Brad, were among the first to wed in California back in 2008 when same-sex marriage was briefly legal.

Last night, in a prescient post, he told his 8.7 million fans on Facebook: "Will I even be able to sleep tonight, awaiting the decision by the Supreme Court tomorrow?"

Today, he was up early celebrating.

"Oh Happy Day! The Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 that marriage equality is the law of the United States. Yes, ALL of these United States," said the "Star Trek" actor.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

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First same-sex marriage takes place in Atlanta

Emma Foulkes, left, and Petrina Bloodworth hold hands and show their wedding rings after being married at the Foulton County Courthouse Friday, June 26, 2015, in Atlanta. A court in Atlanta has started marrying gay couples after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Georgia's ban on same-sex marriage.

Emma Foulkes, left, and Petrina Bloodworth hold hands and show their wedding rings after being married at the Foulton County Courthouse Friday, June 26, 2015, in Atlanta. A court in Atlanta has started marrying gay couples after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Georgia’s ban on same-sex marriage.

(James Queally)

Associated Press

Petrina Bloodworth and Emma Foulkes had been together for 10 years, but they both were shocked when a reporter congratulated them on becoming wife and wife.

The congratulations were greeted with silence.

“It's just we hadn't heard that before,” Bloodworth said. “This is the first time.”

Moments earlier, the couple became what most activists believe was the first same-sex couple to marry in Atlanta after today's historic ruling.

The couple said they had considered getting married elsewhere but that would have created problems when they returned home to Georgia, where their marriage would not have been recognized. But Bloodworth said she was happy the couple waited.

“We are focused on love and family,” Bloodworth said. “We're on top of the world.”

-- Michael Muskal

What happens when you Google 'gay marriage' today

A screenshot shows Google results a search of 'gay marriage' on Friday, June 26, 2015, the day the Supreme Court issued a ruling legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states.

A screenshot shows Google results a search of ‘gay marriage’ on Friday, June 26, 2015, the day the Supreme Court issued a ruling legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states.

(Google)

(Google)

Tech giant Google Inc. joined supporters in celebrating Friday's ruling, adding images of rainbow-colored hearts and people to search results of the phrase "gay marriage."

A message appended to the bottom of its home page said, "YouTube and Google are proud to celebrate marriage equality. #ProudtoLove," and linked to a video highlighting recent gains for gay rights.

Jindal: Ruling marks 'all out assault' against religious freedom

Gov. Bobby Jindal announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in Kenner, La.

Gov. Bobby Jindal announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in Kenner, La.

(Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

Gerald Herbert / Associated Press

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who entered the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination earlier this week, said today's ruling tramples on the rights of Christians and violates the First Amendment.

“The Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states' rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution," he said in a statement. "Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that."

Jindal expressed concern that the ruling could be used to force business owners who are religiously opposed to same-sex marriage to take part in future ceremonies.

-- James Queally

Marriage begins in states where bans led to Supreme Court case

A federal appeals court decision to uphold same-sex marriage bans in four states earlier this year ultimately pushed the issue before the Supreme Court, but after today's historic ruling, marriages have begun in those holdout states.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear issued a statement Friday ordering county clerks to revise the state's marriage license forms immediately.

In Ohio, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley performed a marriage for a gay couple just two hours after the court's decision became public, according to the Associated Press.

Wheeler also announced on Twitter that the city would perform marriages free of cost for the next week.

In Michigan, another holdout state, Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette said his office would "honor, respect and uphold" the court's ruling.

Calls to the Attorney General's office in Tennessee, the fourth state involved in the 6th Circuit case earlier this year, were not immediately returned.

-- James Queally

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West Hollywood planning celebratory rally

Mason Hernandez, 16, center, of Simi Valley, waves a gay pride flag. Thousands flocked to West Hollywood June 14 for the L.A. Pride Parade, an annual celebration of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Mason Hernandez, 16, center, of Simi Valley, waves a gay pride flag. Thousands flocked to West Hollywood June 14 for the L.A. Pride Parade, an annual celebration of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A big party is brewing in West Hollywood to celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling that made same-sex marriage in all 50 states.

"The Supreme Court decision gives me confidence to believe that where there is love, there is hope," said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren Meister.

"Of course this is exciting news, an exclamation point at the end of the last paragraph of an important chapter in the book about civil rights in the U.S.," said City Councilman John D'Amico.

A celebration rally is scheduled for 6 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, city leaders said.

-- Christine Mai-Duc

Finally the highest court in the land has acknowledged that marriage is a fundamental right to which no one should be denied. This holding reaffirms the sacred principle that all people are created equal. It's time to end the debate — let the wedding bells ring.
California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris

Wedding cake in Atlanta

Moments after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, they began serving cake in the Atlanta office where marriage licenses are issued.

Wedding cake.

The first same-sex couple received their license about 10:45 a.m., said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, by telephone.

“This is the moment we have all been waiting for,” he said.

Dozens of couples were in the office.

Georgia had filed a brief opposing the legalization of same-sex marriage across the country. Today, the governor had this to say:

-- Michael Muskal

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom: 'Fight for equality is not over'

California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom praised today's ruling but also tempered his optimism, warning that other landmark civil rights decisions have been challenged and undermined decades later.

"I celebrate today's decision but recognize that the fight for equality is not over," Newsom said in a statement. "Far from it. As we look to the future, I urge those with whom I have walked this march to continue forward with vigilance and resolve."

Newsom also called for better protections for LGBT employees who may face workplace discrimination.

The former San Francisco mayor was instrumental in the early stages of the fight for same-sex marriages in 2004, when he ordered local officials to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses. The California Supreme Court halted the marriages a month later, but 4,000 couples were wed under Newsom's order.

--James Queally and Christine Mai-Duc

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With the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots this weekend, we're reminded of how long and winding the road to equality has been. Today, our highest court has upheld a principle enshrined in our Constitution, but only now finally realized for same-sex couples across America.
Gov. Jerry Brown

Interactive timeline: Gay marriage rights in the U.S.

Laws governing marriage rights have evolved on a state-by-state basis in recent years, and the Los Angeles Times has chronicled the nation's march toward legalizing same-sex marriage.

Click "Read More," below, to view the timeline.

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Texas plaintiffs: 'A dream come true'

Victor Holmes, left, and his partner of nearly 18 years, Mark Phariss, were two of the plaintiffs in the case challenging the Texas law banning same-sex marriages. Following the ruling, Phariss said, the couple is planning a November wedding.

Victor Holmes, left, and his partner of nearly 18 years, Mark Phariss, were two of the plaintiffs in the case challenging the Texas law banning same-sex marriages. Following the ruling, Phariss said, the couple is planning a November wedding.

(Andrew Slaton)

Victor Holmes, left, and his partner, Mark Phariss, had their photo taken in front of the Texas state Capitol in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling Thursday. (Credit: Andrew Slaton)

Two of the plaintiffs who challenged the Texas law banning same-sex marriages say they're now planning a November wedding.

"After almost 18 years together, we can soon exchange vows, place rings on each other's finger, look each other in the eye and say 'I do,'" said Mark Phariss, a corporate lawyer who lives outside Dallas.

Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton vowed Friday to address questions about the "religious liberties" of court clerks and others who might be compelled to participate in gay weddings.

But Friday was about celebration for the couple.

"That Mark and I can finally marry in our home state, surrounded by friends and family, is a dream come true," said Victor Holmes, Phariss' partner.

--Christine Mai-Duc and Molly Hennessy-Fiske

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Obama calls ruling 'a victory for America'

President Obama lauded the Supreme Court's ruling during remarks in the White House Rose Garden, calling it a “victory for America.”

He praised the persistence of same-sex marriage backers who took their fight to statehouses, courthouses and all the way to the Supreme Court. “Sometimes,” he said, “there are days like this, when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt.”

The president vowed that allowing same-sex couples to marry would strengthen communities by extending “the full promise of America to every American.”

“This ruling is a victory for America,” he said. “This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts: that when all Americans are treated as equal, all are free.”

--Amy Fiscus

President Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 26, 2015, after the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry anywhere in the US.

President Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 26, 2015, after the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry anywhere in the US.

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press

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@WhiteHouse tweets #LoveWins

Flashback: California makes history (briefly) in 2008

California's Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on gay marriage in a 4-3 decision in 2008, making the Golden State only the second state to allow same-sex couples to wed at the time.

The ruling was eventually invalidated by the passage of Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that amended the state's constitution to prohibit same-sex unions. That ban remained in place until 2013.

But that day in 2008 was hailed as a major victory by Californians and gay rights advocates nationwide.

A line of nearly 100 people lined up outside the courthouse in San Francisco to buy copies of the landmark ruling.

"Today is the happiest and most romantic day of our lives,” Stuart Gaffney, one of the plaintiffs in the 2008 case, told the Los Angeles Times on the day the ruling was handed down.

-- James Queally

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Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments. In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side. It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.
Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and current GOP presidential candidate

Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton: 'Far from a victory for anyone'

Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton issued a statement after the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage, saying that religious liberty is at stake.

"The impact of this opinion on our society and the familial fabric of our nation will be profound. Far from a victory for anyone, this is instead a dilution of marriage as a societal institution," he wrote. "But no court, no law, no rule, and no words will change the simple truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. And nothing will change our collective resolve that all Americans should be able to exercise their faith in their daily lives without infringement and harassment. ... It is not acceptable that people of faith be exposed to such abuse."

--Kelly Parker

Today, my heart is full of joy because the Supreme Court recognized that all Americans should be able to marry the person they love.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)

What the map looks like now

Two years ago, Supreme Court struck down Defense of Marriage Act

J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

Today's historic decision comes two years after the Supreme Court's last landmark ruling on gay marriage: The high court struck down a key component of the Defense of Marriage Act on June 26, 2013.

That ruling, which gave same-sex couples who are legally married equal rights to benefits under federal law, kick-started the two-year campaign that saw same-sex marriage bans struck down in more than 30 states.

The Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, cleared Congress with bipartisan support in 1996.

-- James Queally

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Today is a great day for America's families. The U.S. Conference of Mayors hails the Supreme Court's decisions today on marriage equality. This historic decision will dramatically improve the lives of same-sex couples in cities across the nation.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, speaking on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Mayors
All human beings are created equal by God and thus deserve to be treated with love, dignity and respect. I am, however, disappointed that the Supreme Court disregarded the democratically enacted will of millions of Americans by forcing states to redefine the institution of marriage. My views are based on my upbringing and my faith. I believe that marriage is a sacred vow between one man and one woman, and I believe Americans should be able to live and work according to their beliefs.
House Speaker John A. Boehner

ACLU: 'The wind is at our backs'

The American Civil Liberties Union hailed the Supreme Court's sweeping decision Friday as historic.

"Today's decision has been 50 years in the making and will stand with Brown vs. Board of Education as one of the landmark civil rights moments of our time," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero, citing the famous 1954 decision that desegregated public schools.

Romero said the next step was to fight for LGBT non-discrimination laws in all states. "The wind is at our backs, and we are now on the cusp of achieving full legal equality for LGBT Americans," he said.

-- Christine Mai-Duc

How the states' rules have changed

Los Angeles Times

In 2013, only 12 states allowed same-sex couples to marry. But the Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act that year paved the way for dozens of lower courts to overturn voter-approved marriage bans throughout the U.S.

The Los Angeles Times has been tracking the changes in each state in recent months, and you can follow the history of those legal battles here.

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America will never forget this day, and neither will people all across the world who know the meaning of love and compassion.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

The case that pushed the Supreme Court to rule on marriage

Pro and anti-gay marriage demonstrators rallied outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard arguments on same-sex marriage Tuesday.
Pro and anti-gay marriage demonstrators rallied outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard arguments on same-sex marriage Tuesday.
(Brian Cahn / TNS)

Brian Cahn / TNS

The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments about the right to marry in January, after a federal appeals court upheld bans on same-sex marriage in four states.

The high court had avoided making a definitive ruling on several prior occasions until the appeals court upheld bans in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan.

The justices agreed to hear 2 1/2 hours of arguments in April, longer than the traditional hour.

Today's ruling was meant to answer two questions: Does the 14th Amendment include a right to marry for same-sex couples, and must states recognize same-sex marriages that took place in other states?

-- James Queally

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Today the Supreme Court ruled on the right side of history ... Same sex couples have fought so hard and waited for so long for their government to respect their love and recognize the dignity of their unions."
Sen. Harry Reid

Next frontier for gay rights? Employment and housing discrimination

Though a broad high court ruling may very well send a legal message throughout the country that discrimination based on sexual orientation is on shaky legal ground, current federal civil rights laws do not explicitly ban such discrimination.

Only 22 states and the District of Columbia have laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation, leaving millions of gays and lesbians without a clear right to rent an apartment, eat at a restaurant or keep their jobs.

“This is the next frontier after same-sex marriage,” said Bryan Gatewood, a gay rights lawyer in Louisville.

-- Timothy M. Phelps

Plaintiffs in Michigan case rejoice

April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, two nurses from Michigan who are raising four adopted children, braced themselves as they awaited word of the decision in Ann Arbor on Friday.

When the decision was announced, the couple jumped up and raised their hands, hugging supporters around them.

-- Christine Mai-Duc

The road to gay marriage

A same-sex marriage supporter has her forehead painted with rainbow colors as she joins demonstrations in front of the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013, in Washington, D.C.

A same-sex marriage supporter has her forehead painted with rainbow colors as she joins demonstrations in front of the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013, in Washington, D.C.

(Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)

Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images

From the Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 to today's historic decision, the Los Angeles Times has provided extensive coverage of the march towards legalizing gay marriage throughout the country.

You can find dozens of stories by Times reporters in Los Angeles, Washington and around the country here .

You can also find a timeline of court decisions and other landmark moments in the gay marriage fight stretching back to 2000 here .

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The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of a person, under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment, couples of the same sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty.
Justice Anthony Kennedy

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This court is not a legislature. Whether same-sex marriage is a good idea should be of no concern to us. [The issue] is not about whether, in my judgment, the institution of marriage should be changed to include same-sex couples. It is instead about whether, in our democratic republic, that decision should rest with the people acting through their elected representatives, or with five lawyers who happen to hold commissions authoring them to resolve legal disputes according to law.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

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POTUS reacts to SCOTUS

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