STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY – It’s a historic day in the United States as the Supreme Court weighed in on same-sex marriage.
A divided Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples can marry, nationwide.
One State College couple played a big role in bringing same-sex marriage to Pennsylvania last year. Friday, they said they’re overwhelmed to hear the news.
“I was still holding my breath, will we be equal citizens,” Ron Gebhardtsbauer said.
Gebhardtsbauer and his partner Greg Wright can’t believe the day is here.
“We are married in the whole United States now,” he said. “No matter where we go, even if we drive across the state border to Ohio, we’re still married.”
“Once Pennsylvania changed, I think I was much, much more hopeful, but you never know for sure,” Wright said. “We were waiting with bated breath, we just didn’t know which way this was going to go.”
The two have been together for more than 20 years now. They got married in November 2013 in Maryland.
Friday’s decision is being largely celebrated, but there are some who still don’t agree.
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown released a statement today:
“Today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court does not change the fact that the Catholic Church recognizes marriage as a Sacrament between one man and one woman. The Church calls on all Catholics to stand united in recognizing and promoting the value of traditional marriage in our society,” Tony Degol, Secretary of Communications for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, said.
“Our desire to be married is not something about how we misconstrue marriage,” Gebhardtsbauer said. “Our desire to be married is the same as anybody else’s. People, even on the right end of the spectrum, feel that family is important and we’re sort of saying the same thing. Family is important. We’re agreeing with you.”
Members of Penn State’s LGBTQA community are celebrating, too.
“Especially for the young people, I work with students, and I’m so happy for them that they won’t have to go through some of the things I had to go through when I was younger,” Allison Subasic said. “It’s just a new world for them today.”
A divided Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples can marry, nationwide.
One State College couple played a big role in bringing same-sex marriage to Pennsylvania last year. Friday, they said they’re overwhelmed to hear the news.
“I was still holding my breath, will we be equal citizens,” Ron Gebhardtsbauer said.
Gebhardtsbauer and his partner Greg Wright can’t believe the day is here.
“We are married in the whole United States now,” he said. “No matter where we go, even if we drive across the state border to Ohio, we’re still married.”
“Once Pennsylvania changed, I think I was much, much more hopeful, but you never know for sure,” Wright said. “We were waiting with bated breath, we just didn’t know which way this was going to go.”
The two have been together for more than 20 years now. They got married in November 2013 in Maryland.
Friday’s decision is being largely celebrated, but there are some who still don’t agree.
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown released a statement today:
“Today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court does not change the fact that the Catholic Church recognizes marriage as a Sacrament between one man and one woman. The Church calls on all Catholics to stand united in recognizing and promoting the value of traditional marriage in our society,” Tony Degol, Secretary of Communications for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, said.
“Our desire to be married is not something about how we misconstrue marriage,” Gebhardtsbauer said. “Our desire to be married is the same as anybody else’s. People, even on the right end of the spectrum, feel that family is important and we’re sort of saying the same thing. Family is important. We’re agreeing with you.”
Members of Penn State’s LGBTQA community are celebrating, too.
“Especially for the young people, I work with students, and I’m so happy for them that they won’t have to go through some of the things I had to go through when I was younger,” Allison Subasic said. “It’s just a new world for them today.”
