On Friday, June 26, 2015, by a 5-4 margin, the Supreme Court of the United State (SCOTUS) made an historic decision making marriage equality a reality for same-sex couples in the United States. [1] Prior to that ruling, only 37 states recognized same-sex marriage and 13 states had legislation in place banning it. [2] Marriage equality afforded same sex married couples federal recognition and access to over 1000 federal laws/benefits that were not accessible without that status.[3] These benefits include social security benefits, taxes, estate, medical and death. Specifically, before marriage equality, same-sex married spouses could not file joint federal tax, could be banned from visiting or making medical decisions for their spouse in a medical facility and were unable to take bereavement leave if their spouse or a spouse’s close relative died. [4] This epic ruling by SCOTUS did not make marriage between same-sex couples more legitimate, it just gave us our just due! The final paragraph of the Court’s decision from that day says it best:
No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right. The Judgement of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed. It is so ordered. [5]
For more information about marriage equality, visit:
https://rewire.news/article/2018/06/26/marriage-equality-same-sex-adoption/
https://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857
https://family.findlaw.com/marriage/developments-in-same-sex-marriage-law.html
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/marriage-rights-benefits-30190.html
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf