(Photo by Don Brubeck – flags flying @ City Hall for Pride Month)
8:53 AM: The biggest news in the nation this morning is the U.S. Supreme Court‘s ruling for marriage equality, on which President Obama commented this past hour, congratulating those who had worked for decades, and hailing it as a moment in which “justice arrive(d) like a thunderbolt.” It also arrived not only at the start of Seattle’s Pride weekend but also two and a half years after the start of legal same-sex marriage in our state – remember that December 2012 night downtown (WSB coverage here) in which West Seattleites were in the spotlight, both the first couple to get a license – Pete-e Petersen and Jane Abbott Lighty – and the WS-residing elected official, County Executive Dow Constantine, who signed it. This morning, Constantine recalled that moment in his official statement on the Supreme Court ruling:
“One of my proudest moments was issuing the first marriage license to a same-sex couple in Washington state.
“This landmark decision makes our Pride celebrations a little more joyous. I’m looking forward to joining with the LGBT community and allies to celebrate at the Pride Parade this weekend.”
He will raise the Pride flag downtown at the County Administration Building Plaza at 11:45 am. Also reacting this morning, West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who, as his statement describes him, is the “first and only openly gay man to serve on the Seattle City Council”:
“Today the Supreme Court ruling means that our Constitution stands for equal rights for all. This achievement is the result of decades of persistent, tenacious and courageous work by people throughout the country. Through steadfast advocacy to not accept anything less than full equality, this ruling moves LGBTQ rights forward.
“While we succeeded on this issue, the fight for LGBTQ rights and equality continues. It is incumbent upon all of us to elect leaders who will protect and defend the rights that have been won and who will continue the effort to ensure full and fair treatment for all.
“The quote, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice’ rings true today, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Mayor Ed Murray, a former West Seattleite and longtime marriage-equality advocate, is speaking with the media in a few minutes (live on Seattle Channel at 9 am), and his office says he will lead a rally at the federal courthouse downtown later today – details to come.
9:17 AM: Joining the mayor at his news conference, Councilmember Rasmussen, who said this day seems “like a dream,” and spoke of younger days in which he was worried that his sexual orientation would keep him from getting a job, and could barely imagine having the right someday to marry:
That’s a screengrab from the ongoing Seattle Channel live feed. We’ll add the video once it’s archived on the SC website. (added 2:02 pm – here it is:)
Meantime, the aforementioned rally has been announced for 7th/Stewart downtown at 5 pm.
12:02 PM: Statement just in from another West Seattle-residing elected official, County Councilmember Joe McDermott:
I’m thrilled to join the jubilation across our country for today’s decision. From today forward, couples across the nation will be able to marry legally and be recognized as a family in the eyes of the law, just like Washington families, including myself and my husband Michael. Today, there is more love in the world, and that is a good thing!
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