The Supreme Court on Tuesday took up cases on whether the Constitution gives gay couples the right to marry. Justices also agreed to decide by the end of their term this June whether states that do not permit same-sex weddings must recognize couples legally married in other states. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders has a long record of support for the right of gays to marry. In the House, he voted in 1996 against the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which barred federal recognition of gay marriages. The Supreme Court in 2013 struck down part of that law as unconstitutional. 

In Vermont, Sanders supported efforts in the state Legislature which in 2000 passed a law recognizing civil unions. Vermont went on in 2009 to be the first states to legalize gay marriage without a court order.

“Of course all citizens deserve equal rights. It’s time for the Supreme Court to catch up to the American people and legalize gay marriage,” Sanders said.