Marriage equality cases are some of the first items being considered by the Supreme Court on Monday as justices return from their summer break. Before the court are seven petitions asking the court to take up marriage equality cases involving five states. Included is the 3-0 majority opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago that overturned marriage equality bans in Indiana and Wisconsin.
The Equality Federation, a national affiliation of state equality organizations co-founded by Equality Illinois, has signed on to a brief urging the Supreme Court to take up the cases and to create the freedom to marry throughout the country. If the court orders a full hearing this term, it would set the stage for a possible nationwide ruling on the issue by June.
“We at the Federation believe it is time for the Supreme Court to grant the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in all states,” the organization said in a statement. “Every day of [marriage] denial cases real harm.”