[vc_single_image image=”1223″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”]For Release June 26, 2015
Media Contact:
Deborah V. Hall, M.D.
National President
pres@amsa.org
Medical Students Support Marriage Equality as Supreme Court Hands Down Decision
Sterling, Va. – With its historic decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case, the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that, across the nation, same-sex couples will be allowed to marry regardless of where they live.
In response, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) would like to reiterate its long-standing support of marriage equality for same-sex couples and applauds this decision.
By finding that same-sex couples are deserving of the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples, the Supreme Court recognizes the equal dignity of its lesbian, gay, and bisexual citizens with regard to the institution of marriage. In particular, “the social, economic, and health benefits of marriage should not be denied to people because of who they love,” says Dr. Deborah V. Hall, national president of AMSA.
“Marriage equality will help ensure our patients have the proper rights at critical times including end-of-life arrangements or access to family medical leave,” says Corey Hoch, chair of AMSA’s national committee on gender and sexuality.
Because the decision did not address the issue of strict scrutiny, which could have provided protection from discrimination in additional domains, much work remains to be done in ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have the same access to rights and privileges as all other citizens. However, the Supreme Court’s decision represents a tremendous step toward this goal and a culmination of years of work by thousand of advocates. With this win, AMSA and other LGBT-supportive organizations will be able to focus our energies on the barriers that remain.
About the American Medical Student Association
AMSA is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. To learn more about AMSA, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at www.amsa.org/.
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