Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf
Page Number: 98

Cite as:  576 U. S. ____ (2015) 

3 

ALITO, J., dissenting 

309,  798  N. E. 2d  941.    Nor  is  the  right  to  same-sex 
marriage  deeply  rooted  in  the  traditions  of  other  na-
tions.  No country allowed same-sex couples to marry
until the Netherlands did so in 2000. 

“What  [those  arguing  in  favor  of  a  constitutional 
right to same sex marriage] seek, therefore, is not the 
protection of a deeply rooted right but the recognition
of a very new right, and they seek this innovation not
from a legislative body elected by the people, but from 
unelected  judges.  Faced  with  such  a  request,  judges
have cause for both caution and humility.”  Id., at ___ 
(slip op., at 7–8) (footnote omitted). 

For today’s majority, it does not matter that the right to
same-sex  marriage  lacks  deep  roots  or  even  that  it  is 
contrary to long-established tradition.  The Justices in the 
majority  claim  the  authority  to  confer  constitutional  pro-
tection upon that right simply because they believe that it 
is fundamental. 

II 
Attempting to circumvent the problem presented by the
newness  of  the  right  found  in  these  cases,  the  majority
claims  that  the  issue  is  the  right  to  equal  treatment.
Noting that marriage is a fundamental right, the majority
argues  that  a  State  has  no  valid  reason  for  denying  that 
right  to  same-sex  couples.  This  reasoning  is  dependent 
upon  a  particular  understanding  of  the  purpose  of  civil 
marriage.    Although  the  Court  expresses  the  point  in
loftier  terms,  its  argument  is  that  the  fundamental  pur-
pose of marriage is to promote the well-being of those who 
choose to marry.  Marriage provides emotional fulfillment 
and the promise of support in times of need.  And by bene-
fiting  persons  who  choose  to  wed,  marriage  indirectly
benefits  society  because  persons  who  live  in  stable,  ful-
filling,  and  supportive  relationships  make  better  citizens. 
It  is  for  these  reasons,  the  argument  goes,  that  States