The inability for gays to marry in some states is akin to the blatant racial bias practiced for years in the United States, renowned discrimination lawyer Gloria Allred tells
Newsmax TV.
Allred said she doesn't buy the argument that the tradition of marriage means it can only be between a man and a woman as many conservative and religious groups insist.
"Racial segregation was also a tradition in our country, but that was struck down. Just because something is traditional, doesn't make it right," Allred said Tuesday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."
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"The U.S. Supreme Court in the past has found marriage is a fundamental right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment … because a due process clause guarantees liberty for all of us and liberty encompasses the fundamental right to marry.
"I would argue what's the point of having a fundamental right to marry if you can't marry the person of your choice."
She pointed to the 1948 Supreme Court ruling in which justices struck down state bans on interracial marriage, a case that was mentioned Tuesday during oral arguments before the court on gay marriage.
"Now they're being asked to strike down as being unconstitutional bans on same-sex marriage. I frankly don't see that much difference," Allred said.
"We're talking about two consenting adults and the question really is, should they be excluded, shut out of what we all agree is a noble institution, a fundamental right, the right to marry?
"There has been a history of discrimination against [gays], a minority that has been humiliated, who have been subject to acts of violence, who have been discriminated against, who have been treated as second class citizens."
Allred believes Supreme Court justices will vote in favor of nationwide gay marriage by a vote of 5-4 or 6-3 when their ruling comes down in June.
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