Supporters Say Supreme Court Decision Is Good For Southcoast

The Supreme Court's ruling on Friday in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges essentially made gay marriage legal in all 50 states.

Even though same sex marriage was already in place in Massachusetts Bev Baccelli, an organizer with the Marriage Equality Coalition, says that this decision will still have a major impact on gay couples in Massachusetts.

“If you’re gay and you’re married in Massachusetts and your employer wants to transfer you to Arkansas, well you’re in big trouble, because your marriage, up until today was not going to be recognized in 13 states in this country,” says Baccelli.

However, Baccelli says challenges still remain for members of the LGBTQ community including many living here on the Southcoast.

“On the Southcoast we have GLBTQ youth who are homeless, we have transgender youth who are homeless, and who are struggling with how to come out to their families and friends and neighbors and schools,” says Baccelli “so in the Gay community this isn’t the end of their challenges particularly down here in the Southcoast.”

Baccelli also says though that she was encouraged by the support and acceptance shown by many Southcoast residents when it came to gay rights issues.

“We were incredibly surprised by the support in every sector on the Southcoast,” says Baccelli “not just our legislators but ordinary people, friends, neighbors, family members, who were touched by stories they heard from same sex couples here on the Southcoast.”