If you were to ask your great grandparents anything related to same-sex marriage one hundred years ago, they would think you were out of your mind. But on June 26, 2015, history was changed forever. The people of the United States of America yet again witnessed a civil rights movement for the history books. The LGBTQ community no longer has to fight for their right to marry their loved ones. Love is no longer discriminated against as a citizen of the United States, we are legally allowed to marry whoever we would like.
“Although I am ecstatic about the ruling, I don’t think this fight for equality is over. It is the next step in the right direction, but things aren’t just going to change overnight, because the older and more conservative generations will continue to fight us on this issue,” explains Rob Romero.
On Friday morning, the Supreme Court ruled by a vote of five to four that states can no longer ban same-sex marriage. Not only does this bring equality to same-sex couples but it also allows the couples to receive the benefits that a marriage grants. These benefits are lengthy but the most important include of filing joint tax returns, receiving social security benefits, employment benefits from spouses employers, and medical benefits. These seem like everyday benefits everyone should be able to receive but before June 26, none of this was possible for same-sex couples.
Although this is a huge step, there are a few more things that need to be done. “The next step is for our states to sit down and write new laws pertaining to prohibiting the discrimination of the LGBT communities,” says Romero. This part of the process will most likely be the toughest because of some states biases. “Today’s decision is truly disappointing for states, including Idaho, where the people chose to define marriage for themselves as between one man and one woman,” rebuttals Governor of Idaho, Butch Otter.
As more people like this are led to power, states will attempt to write their own religious freedom laws to discriminate against the LGBT communities, but as we know, federal law reigns supreme. As of June 26, 2015, marriage is no longer defined as a legal union between a man and a woman, but a union between two people who love each other regardless of sexual preference. #LoveWins!
