Banki Moon hails U.S gay marriage legalisation

United Nations: U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the historic ruling by the U.S Supreme Court recognizing gay marriage across the country, saying the decision marks a “great step forward” for human rights in America.

“The Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court that paves the way for gay and lesbian Americans to have their relationships legally recognized, no matter what part of the country they live in,” Mr. Ban’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told.

“Denying couples legal recognition of their relationship opens the door to widespread discrimination. This ruling will help close that door and marks a great step forward for human rights in



the United States,” Mr. Haq said.

The Secretary-General joins the LGBT community and its millions of allies in celebrating this historic decision, he added.

In the historic decision, the apex court by a 5-4 vote ruled, that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage.

“No longer may this liberty be denied,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority in the decision. “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,” he said.