Washington, D.C. – Following today’s decision by a judge in Louisiana requiring the state to recognize a same-sex marriage, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of Interfaith Alliance and Pastor for Preaching and Worship at Northminster Church in Monroe, LA, released the following statement:   “My first reaction to hearing today’s ruling was to shout ‘Hallelujah.’ This judgment of the court is a sign of hope amid the maelstrom of despair and confusion that Louisiana’s LGBT community has lived through recently. It is also a promise that at least some in the state’s political and legal structure are motivated less by prejudice and politics than by the Constitution’s promise of equality and religious freedom. I sincerely hope that the rest of our state’s leadership learns from the courage of Angela Marie Costanza and Chasity Shanelle Brewer and Judge Rubin’s prudent ruling.”   “My most heartfelt congratulations go out to this family who has had their love and legal status affirmed by the court today. It is time for our Governor and Attorney General to stop spending taxpayer dollars trying to undermine families like this one. The two conflicting decisions from Louisiana judges in the last month serve as yet more proof that the Supreme Court must act swiftly to ensure the freedom to marry for all Louisianans and, indeed, for all Americans.”