Politics & Government

Commack Reacts: Supreme Court KOs DOMA

Community members have flocked to Twitter to sound off on the landmark ruling.

With the announcement on Wednesday that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Defense of Marriage act unconstitutional, locals across Northern Suffolk County have flocked to Twitter share reactions on the landmark ruling.

The 5-4 decision will mean the federal government must recognize gay marriages in the 12 states in the U.S. that have legalized these unions, including in New York.

Former Suffolk Legis. Jon Cooper, who served parts of Commack and East Northport for 10 years, hailed the Supreme Court ruling striking down DOMA as a "breathtaking decision. It's an amazing, awesome day."

"I've never been prouder of the Supreme Court as I am today. It's going to change everything. My kids will know their parents' relationship is going to be recognized. If they had upheld DOMA, it could have set us back for a generation," he added.

“It’s nothing short of miraculous," David Kilmnick, chief executive officer of the Long Island Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Services Network, said on Wednesday.

“This law was just so clearly discriminatory and clearly so unconstitutional that I could not see any other way the court would rule,” he said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was quick to praise the decision as well. 

"Two years ago, New York became the largest state to enact marriage equality, and since then we have seen a growing recognition across the country that all citizens deserve equal rights under the law, regardless of sexual orientation," he said in a statement.

"It is my hope that today’s breakthrough decisions will propel our nation forward and finally allow all Americans to be granted the same rights and protections under the law." 

U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop also showed his support.

"Today’s ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional is another important step in the struggle to eradicate discrimination from federal law. It is also a victory for the families who will now be able to access the benefits and rights accorded to married partners by the federal government if they are legally married in a state. America is a more just and more pro-family nation as a result of this decision," he said in a statement.

On Commack Patch's Facebook page, the celebration continued, with Roberta Tricia Sunshine calling the decision "a GREAT day."

See the livestream above. And if you are in the area, tweet with the #DOMA hashtag to be added to the stream.


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