Chairman for the Human Rights Commission Mike Hanson has welcomed the change in legislation allowing same-sex marriages in the US.

Last Friday the Supreme Court ruled that individual states cannot deny gay couples the same marriage rights as heterosexuals.

Mr Hanson told The Royal Gazette: “Despite the vast diversity of cultures, religions, political and social views within the United States, the highest court in the land has ruled that the right to marry is a human right and should not be dependant an individual’s sexual orientation.

“Whilst it was argued that such a decision should await further legislation (or even a referendum) this was rejected by the court. Individuals who have less rights than others should not have to await legislative action before asserting a fundamental human right. It is the core of a free democracy.

“This now means that the six million same-sex couples is the United State have equal access to marriage should they wish it. To put this into perspective, this is 100 times the population of our small island.”