The Supreme Court will hear arguments this spring in a case that will decide whether the Constitution gives same-sex couples the right to marry, and gay marriage advocates are optimistic the court will come down on their side. NY1's Lori Chung filed the following report.
Many at the Stonewall Inn are hoping that the Supreme Court will decide to bring the number of states where gay marriage is legal to an even 50 with the news that the justices will take up the issue this term.
"It's so exciting to know that it might go to the federal level because it's not allowed in my state," said one person at the Stonewall Inn.
The court will be reviewing the constitutionality of an appellate ruling that upheld the ban on gay marriage in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.
Currently, 36 states, including New York and the District of Columbia, allow same-sex couples to marry. Advocates say that number represents progress, but also a lot of couples whose unions aren't recognized by the federal government.
"We can just hope for the best and hope that they have the prudence to make the right decision," said one person at the Stonewall Inn.
"Things like social security. Things like being able to protect your spouse and health care," said Brian Silva of Marriage Equality USA.
Activists like Silva say after years of advocacy and mounting gay rights victories, they have reason to believe the court will come down on their side.
"We're really confident that after court after court in states across the nation, north, south, east, west, have ruled in favor of the right for same-sex couples to get married, that the Supreme Court's going to look at this and continue that trend," Silva said.
At Stonewall, those who saw the gay rights movement from its beginnings in 1969 say however the court decides, there's reason to be hopeful about the future.
"I'm happy for the younger generation. At my age, I do not want to get married," said one person at Stonewall. "We've come a long way for them."
Attorney General Eric Holder said the Obama administration will be urging the court to make marriage equality a reality for all Americans. Arguments are expected in April, and the court is expected to render its decision in June.