Alabama Gov. Bentley, Rep. Gary Palmer disagree with Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley spoke out strongly against a Friday, June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriages, but said he expects state courts will abide by the decision.

Bentley found out about the 5-4 High Court ruling shortly after speaking before the Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce during a breakfast at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center on U.S. 280. He said the Supreme Court decision defies the religious definition of marriage, adding that 81 percent of Alabamians agree with him that marriage should be only between a man and a woman.

“What the Supreme Court has done is change the legal definition of marriage,” Bentley said. “Now anyone truly can come with their own definition of marriage and they have a legitimate right to do that. “

Bentley said he knows the gay marriage issue can be “emotional” and divisive, but urges Alabamians to remain calm. “We can express our disagreements verbally as I have,” the governor said.

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, a Republican elected in November to represent District 3 that includes many of Birmingham’s over-the-mountain suburbs, issued a statement saying the ruling shows a dramatic shift in thinking on the High Court. He called the ruling “an assault against the religious liberties” of millions of Americans.

“I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision in this case and believe it represents the height of judicial activism,” Palmer said. “Two years ago, in U.S. v. Windsor, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional because they claimed that it interfered with the right of states to define marriage as each state saw fit. Now that same court has summarily invalidated the right of every state, such as Alabama, that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.”