CHICAGO – Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in support of marriage equality, a decision that will provide same-sex couples within the library community and throughout the country the legal right to marry without restrictions and with the same legal protections as heterosexual couples.

Under today’s ruling same-sex partners will have access to family benefits that will strengthen families, including family and medical leave, tax equity, inheritance rights, hospital visitation, insurance and retirement benefits, family health care coverage, housing benefits, tuition remission benefits, adoption or birth leave.

American Library Association (ALA) President Courtney Young released the following statement regarding today’s historic decision.

“The American Library Association applauds today’s ruling and support efforts to safeguard the right of every U.S. citizen to marry regardless of who they love,” said Young. “The ALA is thrilled that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender library workers will now have the same protections and rights as their heterosexual peers.

“The ALA believes that diversity and inclusion are essential in a 21st century society.  Providing equal rights to same-sex couples is a step towards strengthening families and elevating our nation to one of equal opportunity, opposed to one of marginalized populations.

“Today’s ruling not only paves the way for equality and acceptance, but also serves as a victory for all those – gay and straight – who fought to end discrimination against individuals and groups in the library profession and in library user populations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.”

The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 55,000 members in academic, public, school, government and special libraries. The mission of the ALA is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.