Southern Colorado reacts to same-sex ruling

Colorado Springs and Pueblo organizations are reacting to the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage nationwide.

“As soon as the news hit, I just got goose bumps, and I couldn’t even believe it,” said Alycia Erickson, senior pastor at Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church.

Erickson has witnessed marriage equality firsthand.

“I’ve wed so many couples. It’s been very exciting for me, and I expect to do many, many more now,” said Erickson.

The ruling is something one Colorado Springs man has waited to hear his entire life.

“This has been a fight that’s been going on for hundreds of years, forever, and the fact that people couldn’t marry who they love. Now, here I am, at 23, it’s legal. Wow, I feel blessed growing up in the day of age of equality,” said Jake Walker, vice president of Colorado Springs Equality.

But Walker knows not everyone sees it that way.

“We’re disappointed, of course, but we’re not really surprised. Religious freedom was a loser in this- price of gay rights did not have to be religious freedom,” said Carrie Gordon Earll, representative for Focus on the Family.

The faith-based organization feels the ruling will affect the community in more ways than one.

“It’ll be wide and deep. We aren’t talking about two people who love each other and want to be in a committed relationship. We’re talking about religious freedom, business owners, parents’ rights,” said Gordon Earll.

Whichever side of the aisle people stand on, there’s one common ground- history.

“It’s breathtaking that the Court would throw thousands of years of history away,” said Earll.

“I think June 26, 2015, will be forever in our memory as a historic day for freedom and equality,” said Erickson.

The Supreme Court’s landmark decision hits close to home for some people in Pueblo.

The Southern Colorado Equality Alliance had a rally Friday night to celebrate the court’s decision.

Pueblo County started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples since last July.

Megan Pakenham said the court’s ruling was a relief.

“It was just really exciting. You get that little butterflies in-your-stomach feeling. The first person I called was my wife. She is the only person I really wanted to call — like who else better to call to say ‘we are legal.'” she said.

Pueblo County has issued close to 100 licenses to same-sex couples since last July.