The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ordered in a 5-4 majority ruling that marriage is a fundamental right that cannot be withheld from same-sex couples, thus legalising same-sex marriage across the United States.
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. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.
– Page 33 of SCOTUS’ judgement
While gay rights advocates and supporters celebrated in the US Singaporeans too reacted to the news, many sending well wishes and congratulations to friends in the States who will now be able to marry.
Some changed their Facebook profile photos to include the rainbow flag that is a symbol of LGBT rights, including:
Alvin Tan, theatre practitioner with The Necessary Stage
Reverend Yap Kim Hao, the first Asian bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia, and long-time LGBT rights advocate
Ivan Heng, theatre practitioner with W!LD RICE, who married his long-time partner Tony Trickett in London last year
Pink Dot Singapore’s Twitter account went into overdrive tweeting well-wishes and rainbow lights on the White House, Empire State Building and Niagara Falls, a reflection of their joy for fellow LGBT advocates in the US.
Sorry for the crazy amt of RTs everyone! But we at Pink Dot are just super elated that #LoveWins! Congrats USA! pic.twitter.com/LSv2xTlnRP
— PinkDotSG (@PinkDotSG) June 26, 2015
https://instagram.com/p/4aodN8LiS_/
#LoveWins pic.twitter.com/bpYL58dZ87
— Hossan Leong (tick myself) (@HossanLeong) June 27, 2015
Equality for all! Well done America, this is a big step in human history. Everyone deserves love. Love is love. #LoveWins
— Shane Pow Xunping (@shanepowxp) June 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/kylemalinda/status/614444159416467456
https://twitter.com/melissatan_/status/614443418723299329
https://twitter.com/clarefcsm/status/614442376589803520
Some tweeted reminders that despite SCOTUS’ momentous decision, the struggle for LGBT equality and acceptance is not over around the world:
https://twitter.com/boygainvillea/status/614449560811737088
https://twitter.com/boygainvillea/status/614455884433887232
https://twitter.com/peigee22/status/614648346574090240
However, some Singaporeans expressed anger and dismay at the ruling:
https://twitter.com/khyrulnooredhza/status/614649609525202948
https://twitter.com/Aqlif/status/614501070702690304
