Assurance Quote by Donald Verrilli Jr
“I think what Lawrence did was provide an assurance that gay and lesbian couples could live openly in society as free people and start families and raise families and participate fully in their communities without fear. And two things flowed from that, I think. One is that has brought us to the point where we understand now in a way even that we did not fully understand in Lawrence, that gay and lesbian people and gay and lesbian couples are full and equal members of the community.”
About This Quote
The quote highlights that legal recognition gave gay couples freedom to live openly, start families, and be fully accepted, leading to broader societal equality.
In simple terms: Legal recognition enabled open, equal lives for gay couples.
Key Takeaway
Equality grows from legal protection.
Themes
rights
equality
family
social inclusion
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
political
social
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- community building
- public education
Key Concepts
civil rights
legal precedent
social acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does law influence public attitudes?
- What further steps ensure true inclusion?
A Different Perspective
Legal change alone doesn't erase deep prejudice.
![“I did think Justice [Antony] Kennedy's opinion on Lawrence was critical to that because it really, what Lawrence in one sense was, of course, about consensual sex being something that the government can't regulate. But really in a more fundamental sense, what it was saying, "Look. Gay people are…” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/52c/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_antony_i-did-think-justice-antony-kennedy-s-opi_278373.jpg)
![“There was a huge movement that led up to [gay marriage legilization], and I played a small role in the great scheme of things. But it was really a privilege to get to do it.” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3b7/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_gay_there-was-a-huge-movement-that-led-up-to_144067.jpg)
![“Justice [Sonia]Sotomayor said, "Let's talk - you want to talk about the tax power."And I got like a 10-minute run on the tax power. And, boy, was I glad I did because I was able to get across this idea that, yes, this is a narrower ground on which you can affirm it. And I think everybody agrees. I…” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc0/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_able_justice-sonia-sotomayor-said-let-s-talk_635926.jpg)
![“There was only really one time that I had a substantive interaction with the president [Barak Obama] directly, and that was in 2013 when we were deciding whether to file a brief in the first gay marriage case, the Perry against Hollingsworth case. That was a weighty decision about whether the…” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/308/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_bans_there-was-only-really-one-time-that-i-ha_867816.jpg)
