On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry under the US Constitution. GLMA Executive Director Hector Vargas issued the following statement:

“GLMA joins today with the LGBT community and the nation in celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision recognizing the love and dignity experienced by same-sex couples and their families and deciding once and for all that same-sex couples have the freedom to marry.

“GLMA has been proud to contribute to the efforts to support marriage equality because we, as an organization of health professionals, know that discrimination and stigma have a significant impact on the health of LGBT Americans. The research also indicates that marriage can have a beneficial health impact for same-sex couples and their families. This is why marriage equality has been so important to our work.

“Today’s victory moves us one step closer to ensuring LGBT people can experience their everyday lives with equality, respect and dignity. GLMA’s work to improve the health and well-being of LGBT people will, of course, continue spurred by new momentum created by the Supreme Court’s action.

“But today, most of all, is a day for celebration and joy in the affirmation of freedom, equality, inclusion, and most important, love."

GLMA, the American Academy of Nursing and Sullivan & Worcester submitted a friend-of-the-court brief providing expert scientific analysis in support of marriage equality in the set of cases decided today by the high court.