WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) celebrated a statement by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who called on Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to begin marriage equality immediately. Governor Jindal released a statement earlier today slamming the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down bans on marriage equality nationwide, and Louisiana was one of the few states in the nation to fail to issue any marriage licenses to same-sex couples today.

Mayor Landrieu’s statement reads as follows:

“The U.S. Supreme Court was clear this morning in its ruling; we have a fundamental right to marry the person we love. We are a nation of laws, and Louisiana is no exception. The State has no legal authority to delay issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples even a moment longer. It is time for Gov. Bobby Jindal and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to stop denying committed, loving couples in Louisiana their constitutional right to marry. They’ve waited long enough.”

Mayor Landrieu has long been a steadfast supporter of marriage equality, and, after Governor Jindal issued a shameful anti-LGBT executive order earlier this year, Mayor Landrieu responded with his own order welcoming LGBT people to the city of New Orleans.

Shortly after the Supreme Court issued their ruling, Governor Jindal declared, “the Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states’ rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution. Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.”