Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "Nearly twenty years ago in the United States Senate, I voted against the Defense of Marriage Act for a simple reason: No law should deny the right of gay and lesbian Americans to marry the person they love. Today, by making marriage equality the law of the land, the Supreme Court reaffirmed one of our founding principles – and our highest ideal – that we are all created equal.

"The Court’s decision also sends a clear message to every corner of the globe: no law that rests on a foundation of discrimination can withstand the tide of justice. That’s why I appointed the first-ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, Randy Berry, who is fighting every single day so that people all over the world have the rights they deserve. We will continue that work, proud of the progress we’ve made in our own country and mindful of the challenges that still need to be overcome."