This article contains homophobic language, and mentions of transphobia and suicide.
On June 26, the United States Supreme Court made a historic decision that changed the face of LGBT rights in the country forever. In a 5-4 ruling, the justices declared that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry their partners in all 50 states. As a member of the LGBT community, today was celebratory. Albeit a shockingly overdue one, my partner and I (or any other same sex couple) could now, theoretically, have our "waking up in Vegas" moment, if we so chose.
For over a decade, the issue of marriage equality has been a big one. In recent years, with over 30 states declaring same-sex marriages as valid, and cases concerning the right of these unions making national news, gay marriage has become the proverbial poster child for the LGBT movement. In other words, it turned into the cause that many people, gay and straight alike, have fought for. In the midst of rainbow-colored Facebook pictures, and uptight Fox News reporters, this landmark decision begs one question: what now?
Gay marriage is legal, right? Homophobia is over! I'm sorry to say that as big as the ruling is, the fight for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals to live as freely as the rest of the population is far from over. As with any other civil rights cause, there will always be bigots, homophobes and, without a doubt, people who try (and will likely fail) to fight this decision in their supposed exercise of religious freedom. But unbeknownst to our allies, the issue of marriage isn't the only right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that is, or was, legally withheld from us.
It is still legal in 29 states, including my home state of Florida, to fire a person because they are gay or bisexual. In several states across the country, laws that enable businesses to discriminate against gay and bisexual individuals are being passed on the basis of violating religious freedom. Many individuals across the country are still exercising (and by that, I mean abusing) their right to protest against "fag marriages" and spewing their hateful speech whenever they can. Kids are still being bullied and disowned by their families for being gay, and there are still cases of suicide among the community.
Then, of course, are our frequently overlooked transgender brothers, sisters, and gender non-conforming individuals. There are presently 32 states with no laws protecting transgender individuals from being fired from their jobs on the basis of their gender identity. Roughly 40 percent of transgender individuals will have attempted suicide by the time they reach adulthood and are very likely to be the victims of violence, hate crimes, and murders, with transwomen of color being the most frequent victims.
This ruling was a triumph for LGBT persons and advocates across the nation. And while it made me happy not only to see our equality being validated, but also the support of my straight allies, it hit me that gay marriage being legal won't make it any safer for me to hold my girlfriend's hand in public. It won't stop people from calling us "dykes" and throwing things at us while walking into a club. It doesn't make it any easier for any of my transgender, or non-binary, friends-- who are sometimes still afraid to leave the house or express who they are. More than anything, I want our allies to recognize that the struggles of this community aren't dealt with because the bigger, mass media covered issue has been settled.
We can get married, but we still need our allies to fight, to support, to listen, and to recognize the issues that may not be seen as common knowledge. As with any other civil rights movement, one USSC decision doesn't mean the end of homophobia. There are more rights than just the right to marry, and we should all fight as hard as we can until LGBT citizens feel the same security and equality that our heterosexual allies already have.
