Congressman Cohen Applauds Supreme Court's Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

Press Release

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, issued the following statement reacting to the Supreme Court's Obergefell v Hodges ruling that affirmed the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry and have their marriages recognized by states. This ruling also decides the Tanko v. Haslam case in which a Memphis couple, Thom Kostura and Ijpe DeKoe (an Army Reserve sergeant), married in New York and then relocated--on military orders--to Memphis. While the couple is legally married on the Millington military base, the state of Tennessee has refused to recognize their marriage as it would other legally valid out-of-state marriages whenever they step off military land. Today's ruling ensures the state to treats them as they would any other married couple and extends equal rights and protections to them.

"I hope today's Supreme Court ruling can put this issue to rest and that the Tennessee General Assembly does not attempt to thwart or undermine the ruling by passing legislation making it more difficult for Memphians like Ijpe DeKoe and Thom Kostura to exercise their constitutional rights. As the Supreme Court has now said, denial of marriage rights is clearly a denial of equal protection, regardless of its effectiveness as a means to score political points at the expense of yet another minority group. As we have seen today, courage and justice always overcome cowardice and prejudice."

Source