What: The Futures of Marriage Equality and Religious Liberty: Perspectives on Obergefell v. Hodges" -- A panel discussion at the University of North Texas for Constitution Day, featuring speakers from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Liberty Institute
When: 11 a.m. Sept. 17 (Thursday)
Where: Room 100 of UNT's Auditorium Building, 1401 W. Hickory St.
Cost: Free
Contact: UNT Department of Political Science at 940-565-2276
DENTON (UNT), Texas -- In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, who had legally married another man in Maryland but whose marriage was not recognized in his state of residence, Ohio. The Court held in a 5-4 decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
The Court's majority opinion also noted that First Amendment protections are in place for those who do not recognize same-sex marriage as part of their religion.
As part of its observance of Constitution Day Sept. 17 (Thursday), the University of North Texas Honors College and the Department of Political Science will present "The Futures of Marriage Equality and Religious Liberty: Perspectives on Obergefell v. Hodges," featuring speakers from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Liberty Institute. The program will begin at 11 a.m. in Room 100 of the Auditorium Building, 1401 W. Hickory Street. It is funded by the Jack Miller Center and the UNT Libraries.
Constitution Day was created in 2004 with the passage of an amendment by U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd to an appropriations bill, which mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions provide educational programs on the history of the American constitution on or near Sept. 17.
UNT's speakers for its Constitution Day program are Rebecca Robertson, legal and policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Texas, and Chelsey Youman, associate counsel for the Liberty Institute.
Rafael Major, senior lecturer in the Honors College, said the program will not be a traditional debate. Instead, both speakers will give their views of the Supreme Court decision and what they believe will be its implications, and will answer questions from the audience following their presentations, he said.
"It's important for students to hear both sides. The immediate ruling is that gay marriage is now recognized and protected by law, but what exactly that means in terms of future lawsuits is still being determined," he said. "It's pretty clear that lawsuits will come from and against county clerks who issue marriage licenses, bakers, florists and perhaps churches and other organizations that don't recognize gay marriage as part of their religion."
Robertson leads the ACLU's legal, legislative and field teams in Texas. She was previously a partner at Baker Botts LLP, where she led the amicus team working on Texas v. Lawrence to challenge Texas' sodomy law. In June 2003, the Supreme Court struck down the law by a 6-3 ruling, which, by extension, invalidated sodomy laws in 13 other states and made same-sex sexual activity legal in every U.S. state and territory. Robertson is a graduate of Rice University and Harvard Law School, and has been recognized by both the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas for her pro bono service.
Youman concentrates on religious liberty matters and First Amendment rights at the Liberty Institute. She previously worked in private practice, successfully litigating corporate fraud, complex commercial cases and consumer rights issues in both federal and state jurisdictions. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law.
During the day, staff members in the UNT Libraries' Eagle Commons Library will pass out pocket-size U.S. Constitutions on campus, including in several classrooms. Students may also pick up their own copies at the Eagle Commons Library is in Sycamore Hall, 307 S. Avenue B.