Joy, reflection, and gratitude marks stars’ reactions to the Supreme Court’s
landmark decision

It was a regular Friday morning in Hollywood when the Supreme Court’s historical ruling recognizing the constitutional right to same-sex marriages was announced. Movies and TV shows were being shot and edited, and stars were out and about promoting their latest projects. And then everything changed.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, was holding a press conference with a HFPA journalist to promote the rebooted Terminator franchise with Terminator: Genisys. He was reminded of his years as California governor, one of the hottest battlegrounds on the fight for LBGT rights, with several measures and counter-measures being passed and invalidated since 2000. Referring to the challenge presented by then San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom – who, in 2004, advised same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses even though they had been banned by a recently approved State statute – Schwarzenegger pondered: “We were always talking about the law, does the city have the right to go and just create its own law when the state and the people of California voted something else? And I made very clear then that it is not that I have something against the marriage of same sex, it’s more that the people of California have voted against same sex marriage. And the only ones that can undo that law is the people themselves or the Supreme Court. And then eventually when Proposition 8 (the referendum which once-again banned same-sex marriages) happened, it was the Supreme Court then that undid the law and we and Jerry Brown, who was then Attorney General and me Governor, we supported it wholeheartedly.”
In the end, Schwarzenegger said, it was a worthy struggle: “ We were very happy that California was actually the first one to take the decision to the Supreme Court and now the United States Supreme Court has followed and in both cases, it’s the right decision to make.” On the promotional circuit with the comedy Trainwreck, director/producer Judd Apatow weighed in on the role entertainment played in shaping society’s acceptance of changing sexual mores. “I think that comedy played a major role in the Supreme Court decision”, he told us. “ I think that people like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and shows like South Park and Modern Family and Will & Grace were part of what greased the wheels for America to become comfortable with this idea and to see these people in the same terms as they see themselves as just human beings trying to be happy and I think it moved much quicker for cultural reasons.”
Amy Schumer, star of Trainwreck, wholeheartedly agreed with Apatow
“I think comedy can really help. I am so excited.” she said, in-between bursts of laughter. “It was like a total surprise, like oh my God, that’s amazing. I am so moved and thrilled about it. And I think comedy is a really good way of kind of sneaking in the back door to help people change their opinion.”
Social media was, of course, ablaze with stars rejoicing over SCOTUS’ landmark ruling. “Love won”, tweeted Ellen DeGeneres. “Congratulations America for finally catching up to the modern era with this landmark step forward for gay and lesbian rights”, chimed Seth MacFarlane. Lena Dunham moved the conversation a bit further: “Let’s use this victory as a reminder to keep pushing for equality on every frontier. We have the power!” she tweeted. Neil Patrick Harris, a leader in the visibility of LGBT talent, was also thankful on Twitter: “It’s a new day. Thank you, Supreme Court. Thank you, Justice Kennedy. Your opinion is profound, in more ways than you may know.”
But perhaps the best reaction belonged to Orange Is The New Black’s star Lea DeLaria who tweeted, minutes after the ruling was made public: “Now I too can get drunk in Las Vegas and marry a hooker in the Elvis chapel.”
Ana Maria Bahiana