Politics & Government

DOMA: A Mother's Perspective

Two Carroll County moms rejoiced Wednesday when a Supreme Court ruling gave their gay sons marriage rights equal to those of heterosexual couples.

Two local moms are celebrating today because the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) means that their sons will have the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples in the eyes of the federal government. 

The court Wednesday struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act that prevented same-sex couples from accessing federal benefits. It also ruled that same-sex marriage in California should stand, saying that some parties in the case seeking to overturn a lower court ruling striking down Proposition 8 had no standing to do so. 

Carroll County resident and PFLAG Carroll County member June Horner said she is thrilled with the Supreme Court's decision.

"It was what I was expecting but I was full of trepidation and hope in equal measures," Horner said. "I am just tremendously happy, it’s a wonderful step forward." 

Horner became active in gay rights in the mid-1980s after learning her son was gay. Since then she said she has been on a quest to let the world know "our kids are fine just the way they are."

"The Supreme Court affirmed what we at PFLAG have always known to be true," Horner told Patch. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are fundamental rights of all citizens and denying them hurts families. I'm so relieved by the ruling."

Carroll County resident Judy Gaver, also a member of both the Carroll County and Howard County PFLAG groups, traveled to Washington, DC Wednesday morning to wait for the Supreme Court's decision. 

Gaver said being there was very exciting. 

"It was hard to know what was happening, it's not like one person came out of the building and made an official announcement," Gaver told Patch. 

According to Gaver, around 10:15 a.m. a young man came out of a side door and starting running. As he was running, he took off his t-shirt and underneath had a bright colored tank top on that said "legalize gay", Gaver said. At the same time, Gaver said people started cheering and yelling "DOMA's dead" and waving their flags. 

"People were checking their phones and we were getting details instantly," Gaver said. 

Gaver, who estimated that there were several hundred people in the crowd, said that the vast majority were in support of gay rights, although there were a few visible signs of dissent. 

"It's only been about 12 years since I learned that my son was gay and I never dreamed I would see the progress that has happened locally and now federally," Gaver said. "I think it's remarkable and I think it's wonderful that we've come so far so quickly." 

Both Horner and Gaver said that they will celebrate but that there is still much work to be done to insure people in every state -- including the 37 states that still do not recognize same sex marriage -- are treated equally. 

"Twenty five years ago when I was starting to work on these things, I would not have in my wildest dreams imaged we would come this far, look where we are now," Horner said. 

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