The New York Times 2010s: on Civil Rights

Lauren Underwood: Counteract institutionalized LGBTQ discrimination

Anthony Kennedy: No longer deny gays the profound liberty of marriage

The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country, the first same-sex marriages in several states, and signs of resistance--or at least stalling--in others. It came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of the unions.

The court's four more liberal justices joined Justice Kennedy's majority opinion.

Anthony Kennedy: Living Constitution: apply 14th amendment to gay marriage

In all of those decisions, Justice Kennedy embraced a vision of a living Constitution, one that evolves with societal changes. "The nature of injustice is that we may not always see it in our own times," he wrote in Obergefell v. Hodges. "The generations that wrote and ratified the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment did not presume to know the extent of freedom in all of its dimensions, and so they entrusted to future generations a charter protecting the right of all persons to enjoy liberty as we learn its meaning."

Antonin Scalia: Showy profundities on gay marriage are profoundly incoherent

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, "No longer may this liberty be denied. No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were."

Antonin Scalia: Everyone in history, until 15 years ago, understood marriage

This drew a withering response from Justice Scalia, a proponent of reading the original understanding of Constitution. His dissent was joined by Justice Thomas. marriage to one man and one woman is contrary to reason; they know that an institution as old as government itself, and accepted by every nation in history until 15 years ago, cannot possibly be supported by anything other than ignorance or bigotry."

Elena Kagan: Concurred on no longer deny gays the right to marriage

The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country, the first same-sex marriages in several states, and signs of resistance--or at least stalling--in others. It came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of the unions.

Justice Elena Kagan, among the court's four more liberal justices, joined Justice Kennedy's majority opinion.

John Roberts: Constitution says nothing about marriage OR gay marriage

Roberts said the majority opinion was "an act of will, not legal judgment" in his dissent. "The court invalidates the marriage laws of more than half the states and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen & the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians & the Aztecs," he wrote. "Just who do we think we are?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Concurred on no longer deny gays the right to marriage

The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country, the first same-sex marriages in several states, and signs of resistance--or at least stalling--in others. It came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of the unions.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, among the court's four more liberal justices, joined Justice Kennedy's majority opinion.

Sonia Sotomayor: Concurred on no longer deny gays the right to marriage

The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country, the first same-sex marriages in several states, and signs of resistance--or at least stalling--in others. It came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of the unions.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, among the court's four more liberal justices, joined Justice Kennedy's majority opinion.

Stephen Breyer: Concurred on no longer deny gays the right to marriage

The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation and tearful embraces across the country, the first same-sex marriages in several states, and signs of resistance--or at least stalling--in others. It came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of the unions.

Justice Stephen Breyer, among the court's four more liberal justices, joined Justice Kennedy's majority opinion.

Rick Perry: Would attend same-sex marriage of a family member

Bobby Jindal: Institution of marriage existed long before our laws existed

The more conservative members of this Republican field--among them Sen. Cruz; Sen. Santorum; Gov. Bobby Jindal; and Gov. Mike Huckabee--have aggressively emphasized their opposition to same-sex marriage. For them, the issue can be used to differentiate themselves not just from Democrats but from mainstream Republicans, like Jeb Bush, who is trying to appeal to a broader audience with an eye to the general election.

Jindal was critical of Republican lawmakers in Indiana and Arkansas who backed down on laws that proponents say protect religious freedom, while Rubio declared that "the institution of marriage as one man and one woman existed long before our laws existed."

Rick Santorum: I would never attend a same-sex wedding

The more conservative members of this Republican field--among them Cruz; Santorum; and Bobby Jindal--have aggressively emphasized their opposition to same-sex marriage. For them, the issue can be used to differentiate themselves not just from Democrats but from mainstream Republicans, like Jeb Bush, who is trying to appeal to a broader audience with an eye to the general election.

Support for same-sex marriage is increasing among Republican voters, but it is still a minority view. That creates a split between conservative Republicans looking to win a primary, and candidates seeking to win a primary without carrying too much baggage into a general election.

Ted Cruz: Pray against a court decision legalizing same-sex marriage

The more conservative members of this Republican field--among them Sen. Cruz; Sen. Santorum; Gov. Bobby Jindal; and Gov. Mike Huckabee--have aggressively emphasized their opposition to same-sex marriage. For them, the issue can be used to differentiate themselves not just from Democrats but from mainstream Republicans, like Jeb Bush, who is trying to appeal to a broader audience with an eye to the general election.

Cruz said advocates of traditional marriage should "fall to our knees and pray" against a court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

Jeb Bush: Respect civil unions & same-sex lifetime commitments

Policy adjustments big & small are routine in American politics. Pres. Obama and Hillary Clinton both previously objected to same-sex marriage; today, they support it.

For Bush, the pattern was illustrated last week by a head-turning statement on the legalization of same-sex marriage in Florida, when he urged "respect" for the unions and offered words of conciliation to same-sex couples "making lifetime commitments to each other."

In 1994, as he ran for governor in Florida, Bush employed strikingly different language when discussing gay rights, arguing that "polluters, pedophiles, pornographers, drunk drivers and developers without permits receive--and deserve--precious little representation or defense from their governor."

Jeb Bush: 1994: LGBT protections are tantamount to elevating sodomy

Rand Paul: Don't register guns federally, nor marriages

What about rapidly-changing opinions on the matter? He took a soft tone. "Society's changing," he said. "People change their minds all the time on this issue, and even within the Republican Party, there are people whose child turns out to be gay and they're like, 'maybe I want to rethink this issue.' So it's been rethought. The President's rethought the issue. A lot of people have rethought the issue."

Was Paul hinting that he, too, could change his thinking? He said, "I believe in old-fashioned traditional marriage. But, I don't really think the government needs to be too involved with this, and I think that the Republican Party can have people on both sides of the issue."

"You could rethink it at some point, too?" I asked. He shrugged. It wasn't a yes or a no.

Jeb Bush: Don't-ask-don't-tell ok if it doesn't affect policy

"On the other stuff, don't ask, don't tell is fine with me," Bush responded, appropriating the terminology Pres. Clinton used regarding gays in the military. "What you do in your private life is your business. If it crosses over into the public policy realm, then that is another matter. If you are comfortable with that, then we can proceed."

Chris McDaniel: As host of Right Side Radio, railed against hip-hop culture

"Millions in this country feel like strangers in this land--you recognize that, don't you?" he told an audience of farmers in Covington County. "An older America passes away, a new America rises to take its place. We recoil from that culture. It's foreign to us. It's offensive to us."

[His supporters] see a candidate who grew up steeped in his Baptist faith, surrounded--and influenced by--the history and traditions of the rural South.

Rick Weiland: Favors same-sex marriage

Weiland has the support of his onetime boss, Tom Daschle, the former Senate majority leader (also a South Dakota Democrat), and of the party's more liberal base. But his candidacy has upset some in the Democratic establishment. Many South Dakota Democrats are hoping for a centrist to compete in a state where the number of registered independents has increased over the past five years. Daschle said he believed that Weiland would be able to earn the establishment's support. "I've been through this hundreds of times--a candidate has to prove himself or herself before they get support of the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]. I believe Rick will be able to do that."

Elizabeth Warren: We need a reliable vote for equal pay for equal work

Brown shot back that "I didn't vote for your boss," a reference to Justice Elena Kagan, who was dean of the Harvard Law School. He said Kagan didn't have the requisite judicial experience.

Bob Turner: The ship has sailed on gay marriage; focus elsewhere

Maragos criticized Wendy Long for not publicly advocating the repeal of same-sex marriage in New York. Long said that was not her role, given that she was not a state lawmaker, but Maragos pressed further, saying it was her duty, since she had the backing of the State Conservative Party--a distinction that Long has eagerly publicized.

Turner was not eager to discuss the subject. "This ship has sailed in New York," he said. "I want to keep the focus on jobs and the economy. The Gillibrand record, the Obama record--that's what this is going to be about."

In a lightning round of questions, Long said she would refuse to attend a same-sex wedding on principle.

George Maragos: Publicly advocate the repeal of same-sex marriage

Maragos criticized Wendy Long for not publicly advocating the repeal of same-sex marriage in New York. Long said that was not her role, given that she was not a state lawmaker, but Maragos pressed further, saying it was her duty, since she had the backing of the State Conservative Party--a distinction that Long has eagerly publicized.

Turner was not eager to discuss the subject. "This ship has sailed in New York," he said. "I want to keep the focus on jobs and the economy. The Gillibrand record, the Obama record--that's what this is going to be about."

In a lightning round of questions, Long said she would refuse to attend a same-sex wedding on principle.

Charlie Crist: Lifetime member of NAACP