Pride On Display Across Baltimore Following Supreme Court Ruling
WASHINGTON (WJZ)--An historic day as the Supreme Court rules same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states.
The five to four landmark ruling is a huge win for couples who've fought for years for the constitutional right to marry.
Meghan McCorkell has more on the impact of the court's decision.
Cheers ring out on the steps of the Supreme Court as the justices legalize same sex marriage nationwide.
In his majority opinion-- Justice Anthony Kennedy writes, "Same sex couples ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The constitution grants them that right."
Jim Obergefell, of Ohio, was the lead plaintiff in the case.
He and his partner, who was terminally ill, got married on the tarmac at BWI Airport after marriage was legalized in Maryland.
"It's my hope that the term gay marriage will soon be a thing of the past. That from this day forward, it will simply be marriage," said Obergefell.
The ruling is a blow to conservatives.
"The more civil issues that we begin to handle at the federal level, the more controversy we're going to sustain," said Ben Carson, Republican Presidential Candidate.
Still across Baltimore-- pride in the Supreme Court's decision is on display.
Even though Maryland passed same-sex marriage back in 2012, Friday's ruling is a huge win for local couples.
"One that I did not think was every going to happen in my lifetime," said Bruce Bodie.
Gino Cardinale and Bruce Bodie, owners of City Cafe-- have been a couple for 22 years.
"We were in New Orleans a few month ago and I was thinking boy something better not happen to one of us here because our marriage wouldn't be recognized at all," said Gino Cardinale.
Now, two years after their wedding day, they celebrate again, as marriage for all is the law of the land.
The ruling does not officially take affect for three weeks.
Speaking out against the Supreme Court ruling, Baltimore Archbishop William Lori says, "We may very well see a difficult road ahead for people of faith who believe in the true definition of marriage".