Crowds Gather As Supreme Court Debates DOMA
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- The crowds in front of the Supreme Court Wednesday were just as large as they were Tuesday. The difference is Wednesday, there were very few opponents of same-sex marriage.
Derek Valcourt has more.
There were hundreds of supporters of same-sex marriage in front of the Supreme Court Wednesday and many of them were from Baltimore.
It was a worthwhile drive for Baltimore couple Amber Phelps and Noel Britton.
"We came out here really just to witness history. We think that marriage equality is coming and coming soon," Britton said.
Over and over again, we heard Marylanders expressing that sense of history happening before their eyes.
"I just feel it's a matter of time," said Dominic Manns.
Even some of the youngest Marylanders here say they've noticed a change in the country's attitudes in their short lifetimes.
"It's gone a really far way from before and the fact that it's at the Supreme Court is like a really big deal," said Brandon Johnson.
It's a big deal to same-sex marriage opponents, as well. There were fewer of them on Wednesday but their passion still runs strong.
"We still believe in traditional marriage, which is one man and one woman, and all they're trying to do is break the family down even more than it already is broken down," said one opponent.
But gays and lesbians say they're fighting to protect their own families.
"It was important for me to be out here, as a Maryland resident, supporting the national campaign to ensure that equal rights are given to everyone in our nation," said Rob Swafford.
"My husband and I have been together for 12 years, married eight years, and it's never been recognized by the federal government, so that's particularly important to us," said Noah Rojas-Derr.
There may be a lot of enthusiasm now, but both sides will have to wait. The Supreme Court isn't expected to announce their decisions until sometime in June.
