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LGBT community celebrates Supreme Court 'same sex' marriage decision

Emily Guerin
/
Prairie Public

Gay marriage supporters filled the Laughing Sun Brewery in downtown Bismarck on Friday to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage across the country. Prairie Public’s Emily Guerin dropped by and sent this report.

 

The brewery was packed with smiling, happy people, rainbow flags in one hand and beers in the other. Sarah Stewart was one of them.

"I’m just in awe that in North Dakota, that I’m sitting here sitting celebrating such an awesome day," said Stewart. "And it just makes my heart smile that I’m here to witness it and be part of it. "

Lisa Warner started celebrating when she found out about the ruling this morning.

"I got a lot of fist pumps at work."

Warner and her wife, Susanna, got married in Iowa two years ago but weren’t considered a married couple in their home state until Friday. Lisa Warner says even before the ruling, North Dakota was becoming a more accepting place to be openly gay.

"It’s not so much in the closet anymore," said Warner. "And we’re more able to be out and proud."

At a near-by table, Tyler Schmalz was excited but disappointed that North Dakotans hadn’t overturned their state’s ban on same-sex marriage themselves.

"It would’ve been great for ND to not have been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and equality, but I’m just glad we’re there anyway."

Also glad was U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, who made a surprise appearance after tossing out the first pitch at the McQuade Softball Tournament. She said it was an incredible day not just for the gay community but for all of the United States.

"Because we’re all standing together as people saying we will not tolerate," said Heitkamp. "We will not tolerate discrimination, we will not tolerate second class citizenship. It is a great, great day."