Special Reports

Broadway Community Responds to Supreme Court Rulings on Proposition 8 and DOMA

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Denis O’Hare, Audra McDonald, Gavin Creel, and many more react with joy at Supreme Court rulings affirming gay marriage.

Washington, DC

June 26, 2013

The scene outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in March.
(© www.facebook.com/BroadwayImpact)

Today was the official end of session for the U.S. Supreme Court and, like a good Broadway show, the Supremes went out with a bang. In a 5-4 ruling on the case United States v. Windsor, the court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that limited the federal government to only recognizing marriages between one man and one woman, regardless of state law.

The justices punted on Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case that examined California’s Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that halted same-sex marriages in that state. In another 5-4 decision, the court found that the “traditional marriage” activists who argued for the proposition in court did not have standing to defend the law after the state refused its right to appeal an earlier circuit court ruling striking it down. That means that the court defers to the earlier decision and gay marriages can resume in California.

The Broadway community is overwhelmingly in favor of gay marriage, with many artists actively involved in the fight for marriage equality: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (The Comedy of Errors) founded the Tie the Knot Foundation with his partner Justin Mikita to support LGBT rights organizations while Rory O’Malley (The Book of Mormon) and Gavin Creel (Hair) founded Broadway Impact to fight for marriage equality.

Leading members of the Broadway community took to Twitter to rejoice in this morning’s news:

Remember the old days when #DOMA was around and gay people couldn’t get married in California? Crazy right!?

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) June 26, 2013

I am sobbing with joy in my dressing room over the decision from SCOTUS. Have to get myself together to go do Act 2. #Equality #LoveWinsOut

— Jared Gertner (@JaredGertner) June 26, 2013

Ding Dong Prop 8 is DEAD!

— Justin Vivian Bond (@mxjustinVbond) June 26, 2013

So my former Army Special Forces dad went down to the steps of the Supreme Court today with this! Way to make… http://t.co/kDvFlNOp1q

— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) June 26, 2013

My coffee tastes extra good with all these AMAZING headlines sweetening it!

— Caissie Levy (@CaissieLevy) June 26, 2013

Out, damned DOMA!
Out, I say!

— #MacbethBroadway (@MacbethBroadway) June 26, 2013

Any straight person complaining about the Supreme Court striking down DOMA should be forced to hire a heterosexual wedding planner.

— Joan Rivers (@Joan_Rivers) June 26, 2013

SCOTUS what you owed us. Thanks. Love wins today.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 26, 2013

DOMA dismissed. This is incredible. #equality

— Matt Doyle (@MattfDoyle) June 26, 2013

#DOMA IS DEAD!!! #SCOTUS has done the right thing, and now the love of my life and I can get our constitutionally guarunteed rights! Wahooo!

— Adam Shankman (@adammshankman) June 26, 2013

Goodbye, DOMA! What a great day for America – and a great day for the commuity! Bravo, #scotus

— Telly Leung (@tellyleung) June 26, 2013

crying. thankful. hopeful. GOODBYE DOMA!

— Max von Essen (@MaxizPad) June 26, 2013

DING DONG THE DOMA’S DEAD

— Ryan Scott Oliver (@ryanscottoliver) June 26, 2013

DOMA IS GONE!!!!!!!!! Hurray!!!!!!!!!

— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 26, 2013

Proud to be an American!

— Nikki M James (@nikkimjames) June 26, 2013

History made.

— Michael Urie (@michaelurie) June 26, 2013

Today marks a watershed moment in history and a tremendous victory for the principle of equality. The 5-4 decision… http://t.co/Hlxeof1qGZ

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 26, 2013

Happy second wedding day, y’all.

— kristofferdiaz (@kristofferdiaz) June 26, 2013

Seeing all the posts of my friends and loved ones and the joy they are feeling makes me overjoyed. Proud ally. #str8againstH8

— Steve Kazee (@SteveKazee) June 26, 2013

Unbelievable–DOMA found unconstitutional! 5-4.

— Denis O’Hare (@denisohare) June 26, 2013

Prop 8. No standing. Per Roberts. 5-4.

— Broadway Impact (@BroadwayImpact) June 26, 2013

I like today. I like today a LOT! LOVE IS LOVE! NOH8!

— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) June 26, 2013

Wow. I feel like an American. And I mean that in the best way possible. #nomoDOMA #suckitProp8

— John Bolton (@ItsJohnBolton) June 26, 2013

PROP 8 is done!!! ADD CALIFORNIA TO THE LIST! #lucky13

— Rory O’Malley (@RoryOMalley) June 26, 2013

Thank you @RoryOMalley @Verucasalt26 @gavincreel & all of you who fought so hard to make today a reality

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 26, 2013

Love is love is love! Good work America ! #Prop8 #DOMA

— Andrew Keenan-Bolger (@KeenanBlogger) June 26, 2013

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.

— Wesley Taylor (@WesTayTay) June 26, 2013

this is a great day in the kingdom! Hey everybody we do onstage proposals at @CinderellaBway ! Just sayin’!

— Ann Harada (@annharada) June 26, 2013

DOMA’s ruling is historic and a thrilling milestone in our American history. #SCOTUS. #HappyGayPride. #LoveIsLoveIsLove

— Cheyenne Jackson (@cheyennejackson) June 26, 2013

Equality reigns in the land 2day!
My heart is full of joy 4 my LGBT brothers & sisters
Deepest gratitude 2 all who made this day possible!

— JudithLight (@JudithLight) June 26, 2013

And finally, Gavin Creel says it all: