Current Affairs

TIME magazine unveils equal marriage cover: ‘Gay marriage already won’

Mar 28 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

The cover of the latest edition of TIME magazine has been revealed, which features an image of same-sex couples kissing, accompanied by the text: “Gay marriage already won”.

The new covers were revealed by TIME on its website, and on Twitter, with two images, one of a gay couple, and one of a lesbian couple, both photographs taken by Peter Hapak.

The cover text is accompanied by the message: “The Supreme Court hasn’t made up its mind, but America has”.

The latest edition of TIME also contains a feature on the history of the gay rights movement, of the title How Gay Marriage Won, described as: “The gay and lesbian community has gone from Stonewall to the altar in two generations”.

TIME also tweeted, encouraging users to share equal marriage photos, and stories on the social networking site, using hashtag #TIMEGayMarriage.

The US Supreme Court Justices on Wednesday indicated a possible interest in striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), as it heard arguments around the issue, and questioned whether there should be a federal law prohibiting states from individually deciding on the issue.

At the hearing, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli said that, if DOMA were to be struck down by the Supreme Court, it would be “difficult” for any state to defend its ban on same-sex marriage.

This was the second day of hearings, as Tuesday the court heard arguments around Proposition 8, the state of California’s ban on equal marriage. Then the justices questioned the meaning of marriage, and challenged arguments for the ban.

A decision by the Supreme Court in both cases is expected by the end of June.

Several polls released recently have found that support for equal marriage in the US has shifted greatly, and is an at all time high.

Speaking to Time Magazine reporters after he was named ‘Time Magazine Person of the Year’, US President Barack Obama reflected on the transformation made to attitudes towards homosexuality in America.

Back in January, in a similar sentiment, the French edition of Elle Magazine came out in support of equal marriage in France, amidst a heated debate on the issue by featuring a lesbian couple getting married, on its cover.