Supreme Court Hears Same-Sex Marriage Arguments
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Supreme Court is hearing arguments Tuesday in several cases about the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Outside the Supreme Court Tuesday there's singing of the national anthem, preaching as justices hear arguments in historic same-sex marriage cases.
The cases before the court come from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee –all of which had their marriage bans upheld by a federal appeals court last year.
Justices will try to answer two key issues; whether states have an obligation to perform same-sex marriages and also whether states must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Travis Weber, with the Family Research Council, believes the decision should be up to each state.
"We believe the Supreme Court should leave this decision in the hands of the states and allow the 61-percent of Americans who believe that states should be free to define marriage to have their voices heard," said Weber.
Click here to WATCH CBS4 Walter Makaula's report
The cases being heard include Jim Obergefell's, an Ohio man who went to Maryland to marry his partner and then his home state would not recognize their union.
"I absolutely feel like I'm being tried like a second-class citizen, as someone not worthy of the same rights as the person standing next to me," said Obergefell.
Shortly after the marriage, Obergefell's husband died from ALS—Ohio refuses to list him as the surviving spouse on the death certificate.
"I think he's proud and I know he would thank me for living up to my promises to him," he said.
Arguments began at 10 AM Tuesday and are expected to last several hours. A decision isn't expected until late June.
