Historians and the Obergefell Decision - updated

Both the majority opinion and the dissents in Obergefell v. Hodges, the recent Supreme Court same-sex marriage case, are notable for their references to history. Research by legal historians Hendrik Hartog (Princeton University), Nancy Cott (Harvard University), and Stephanie Coontz (Evergreen State College), among others, made it into the decision. Historians have also weighed in on the decision's significance. Here's a roundup of coverage from around the web.

*UPDATED*

• From History News Network: "In gay marriage decision, Supreme Court turns to historians for insight." The article focuses on the amicus brief filed by "historians for marriage" and the American Historical Association. 

• From Process, the blog of the Organization of American Historians: Dirk Hartog tells us how it feels to be cited by the Supreme Court ("Cool. Very Cool.") and offers "four suggestions about why the brief mattered and, more importantly, how it succeeded."

• The Atlantic published commentary by David M. Perry (Dominican University), titled "A New Right Grounded in the Long History of Marriage."

• From the New York Times: Timothy Stewart-Winter (Rutgers University, Newark) on "The Price of Gay Marriage."

• Over at Balkinization, Jack Balkin (Yale Law School) has posted on the Justices' competing uses of the concept of tradition. 

• From Inside Higher Ed: Johann Neem (Western Washington University) uses Obergefell as an example of "The Social Impact of Humanities 'Inventions.'"

• My personal favorite: Corey Robin (Brooklyn College/CUNY Graduate Center) digs into Justice Thomas's biography to shed light on the dignity references in his dissent. (Hat tip: Ariela Gross)

• Over at HistPhil, Maribel Morey (Clemson University) uses Obergefell to reflect on "the Role of Philanthropy in a Democracy."

• Andy Seal, writing for the U.S. Intellectual History Blog, has a post on "What the Obergefell Decision Could Have Been." (Hat tip: Kate Redburn) 

• Also on the U.S. Intellectual History Blog: Claire Potter (New School for Public Engagement) places "Gay Marriage, in (Out)Historical Context." (Hat tip: Sara Mayeaux)

• Writing for the web magazine Nomocracy in Politics, Bruce Frohnen (Ohio Northern University) responds to critiques of another historically grounded amicus brief--filed by originalist scholars in support of "traditional marriage." (Hat tip: Robert Waters)

• From historian Lara Freidenfelds, writing over at Nursing Clio: "Obergefell Made History, and History Made Obergefell."

• The history of sexuality blog Notches has posted "The Obergefell Syllabus: Historicizing Same-Sex Marriage in the United States."

Are there more articles we should note? Leave your comments and we'll continue updating the post.

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