Last week the United States Supreme Court made history when it ruled that the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
The University of Illinois Counseling Center, echoing the positions of national mental health organizations such as the American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association, applauds this landmark decision and is overjoyed same-sex couples in the United States will face less discrimination when it comes to the right to marry. True equality begins with the same legal rights and protections for all.
While we celebrate this victory, we know that the fight for equality for ALL Americans continues and we have hope this decision will be an important step in clearing other barriers that prevent everyone from being treated with dignity and respect. We recognize that marriage equality is not the end of the LGBTQ rights movement. The Counseling Center stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in continuing the journey toward ameliorating discrimination.
Campus Resources:
Counseling Center’s Queers & Allies Committee
LGBT Resource Center
Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations