Same-sex marriage in front of the U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (Adam Clements) -- Demonstrators on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate are gathered in front of the Supreme Court, where justices are hearing arguments in cases that could make same-sex marriage the law of the land.Some waved gay rights banners. Others carried signs proclaiming that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.The Supreme Court is hearing arguments whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and whether states are required to recognize those unions performed legally in other states.Nothing is expected to be settled today. This is just a day in which each of the states will have the chance to make their arguments.In all, the court will hear four cases; one from Kentucky, one from Tennessee, one from Michigan and of course from Ohio. The plaintiff in that case is from Cincinnati.Jim Obergefell was married to his now late husband in Maryland. He's arguing to have Ohio recognize that marriage so that his name can appear on his husband's death certificate. Right now 37 states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage but those unions are not recognized by all states.Here locally, the climate of the cases and the arguments being made have been mixed. "A lot of friends of mine that are dating the same sex and personally i don't think there's really anything wrong with it," says Sean Wood. "I think you should be able to live your life the way you want to live it." "The Constitution defines any powers that aren't granted specifically to the federal government as powers that are reserved to the states. So the question to me really seems to be whether or not marriage is a state-by-state thing or it should be recognized federally and unfortunately marriage licenses, as far as i know marriage licenses are not in the federal jurisdiction," says Sri Kumar. Jim Obergefell released a statement. It reads: "Our home state does not recognize our marriage and because of that, they are fighting to remove my name from John's death certificate. More than two decades together-thousands of days, shared with love-are not recognized by our community, our city, and our state. We shared our lives. No one can dispute that. We shared his death, and no onewill dispute that." You can listen to the oral arguments on the Supreme Court's website. A decision could come in June. Follow Adam Clements on Twitter @aclementswkrc and LIKE him on Facebook.