The dissenting Supreme Court opinions issued today in a ruling that ended state bans on same-sex marriage ranged from ridiculous to depraved, with justices Antonin Scalia invoking hippies and Clarence Thomas saying the government can’t bestow dignity on gays because of slavery and internment camps.

But speaking for the 5-4 majority in Obergefell v. Hodges , Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote perhaps the most graceful and moving prose of his career.

ADVERTISEMENT