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One Year Anniversary Of SCOTUS Gay Marriage Ruling Arrives

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – Sunday (June 24) marks one year since the United States Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. Since then tens of thousands ...

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – Sunday (June 24) marks one year since the United States Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. Since then tens of thousands of couples have been married.

Reverend Mark Williams, senior pastor at Spirit of Peace Church in Fayetteville, said he would perform same-sex ceremonies before the ruling, but he called them “blessed unions.”

However, since gay marriage was legalized, he has changed his terms.

“[I say] with the authority of the Supreme Court of the United States, I boldly proclaim this is a legal marriage,” Williams said. “It has changed the whole outlook of the gay and lesbian community.”

Williams, an openly gay Christian minister, said the ruling was significant to him as well.

“It has been phenomenal, the number of people who have called out of the blue, saying `not only do I want to be legally married. But, I want to be married in the eyes of the church`,” Williams said.

Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, said the ruling should never have happened.

“The decision, I think, will be overturned,” Brown said. “The United States Supreme Court did not have any jurisdiction or right to redefine the nature of marriage, and to steal from the people their right to vote on such questions.”

Williams said what is done, is done. He hopes the country will continue to become more inclusive in the years to come.

“We have celebrated a big milestone this past year, and I am very grateful for that. But, we have so many more to overcome, and so much more has to happen,” Williams said.

Those in the LGBT community said they hope the next step for the United States would be full inclusion and fair rights for transgender individuals.

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