Gay marriage ruling prompts Statehouse celebration

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gay marriage has been legal in Indiana for just over a year but, until now, there was the threat that a Supreme Court ruling could change that.

And that’s why there was a celebration in Indiana Friday.

Several dozen people gathered within earshot of the governor’s office in the Statehouse rotunda less than two hours after the ruling came down.

“Governor Pence, guess who gets to get married,” organizer Karen Celestino Horseman told the crowd.

It was an emotional rally.

“I can’t say it’s unbelievable because we knew we would get here eventually,” said Satuel Cole. “We just didn’t know when.”

Some of them, including Pam Lee, sued for for right to get married in Indiana.

“This ruling speaks to equality,” Lee told the crowd. “It speaks to fairness, it speaks to freedom and, again, it speaks to love.”

Others just wanted to celebrate.

“It means everything,” said Dana Black. “It means my wife and I, who are contributors in an economic way to our society, now have the ability to be respected in all 50 states.”

“Now Hoosiers know that they can remain married,” said Katie Blair, “without the threat of it being taken away. It’s ours.”

And just in case there were doubts, Celestino Horseman, a lawyer, read from the Supreme Court ruling.

“No union is more profound than marriage,” she read, “for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family.”

The law of the land just shifted.

Governor Mike Pence is on the other side of this argument and he was slow to react.

He issued a statement four hours after the ruling came out expressing disappointment but, he said, his administration will respect the law.