The fight for rights is not over....
Though yesterday's Supreme Court rulings were indeed "one giant leap for mankind", for most GLBT Americans the fight for equality is far from over. Once we come down from the high of those major victories, we need to turn our attention to smashing the hateful bigotry that is still the rule of law in most states. Even how yesterday's rulings may be interpreted by federal agencies can vary widely, as the editorial below illustrates. Unfortunately, it's going to be a long slog through the halls of Congress to make these changes, not to mention the state-by-state fight for basic human rights.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130626/edit01/306260141
(excerpted)
Editorial: Supreme Court rules, but debate over marriage will continue
1,138.
That’s the number of federal benefits, rights and privileges granted to married people or affected by marital status. Things like lower estate taxes and increased veterans’ benefits, breaks on immigration status and the right to family medical leave.
Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act makes those benefits available to same-sex couples who are married in states that recognize their unions. There are 12 such states, plus the District of Columbia and now California, whose ban on same-sex marriage effectively ended Wednesday with another Supreme Court decision. Almost one-third of all Americans live in those states and the District.
The question of whether or how the decision affects local couples is trickier. Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana all ban marriages between two people of the same sex, so local couples won’t automatically receive any federal benefits. As for local couples who marry in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages, the status of the benefit depends on who’s granting it. Some agencies recognize marriages based on where they take place, others on where the couple live. Some can be changed through regulation, others only by changes in federal law.
To illustrate how complicated the web of benefits is, the Department of Defense recognizes marriages based on “place of celebration,” while Veterans Affairs uses the “place of residence” test. It’s a web that could take years to unravel and in many cases requires the involvement of a recalcitrant U.S. Congress.
In the meantime local residents will continue to debate the issue. It’s worth noting that, while Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana all ban same-sex marriage, Ohio’s is by far the most sweeping of the three, and indeed one of the most sweeping in the nation. In addition to banning marriages, the Ohio constitution also bars state agencies from granting benefits to couples in domestic partnerships. It also prohibits courts from forcing Ohio to recognize same-sex unions of any type granted by other states, cities or countries.... (continued)
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