Strides Towards Equality: The DOMA Decision
By Erin Corbett
Photo courtesy of Reuters
This weekhas been historical for the gay rights movement with a breakthrough in legalhistory. The Supreme Court hasruled the Defense of Marriage Act, otherwise known as DOMA, asunconstitutional.
DOMA wassigned into law in 1996 by then-President Bill Clinton, excluding married gaycouples from a number of crucial legal rights, including the non-recognition ofmarried partners of gay Americans under the immigration system.
The Guardian states,
“Within hours of the supreme court ruling striking downthe Defence of Marriage Act (Doma) […] many branches of the federalgovernment including the Pentagon and State Department had issued statementssaying they would immediately extend employee benefits to same-sex partners.”
Others,including the Department of Homeland Security have announced that immigrationpolicies that affect mixed nationality gay couples would go under revision aswell.
Gay couplesin same-sex marriage states will now have the right to file joint tax returnsand will have access to federal benefits. But more than just in terms oflegality, the ruling of DOMA as unconstitutional could provoke a shift inmentality of popular thought in US society. Could this legal ruling reduce homophobia and thus theoppression of “non-heterosexuals?”
There isstill much to be done in terms of same-sec marriage and legality, but theruling of DOMA as unconstitutional has definitely been a positive step forwardin embracing the many cultures and ideas of the world we live in today.
Moreover,governor Jerry Brown of California has taken on a separate Supreme Court ruling,dismissing an appeal to uphold the state's Proposition 8 vote banning gaymarriage. County clerks have been instructed to begin issuing marriage licensesto same-sex couples – the ruling is set to become official in 25 days.
It onlyseems right that such a huge step forward for the gay community take placeduring Pride month.
The Guardian states,
“The San Francisco gay communitythrew one of the biggest parties of the year on Wednesday. Thousands of peoplethronged the Castro neighborhood, at the heart of gay life in the city. Businessesclosed early and traffic was detoured away from the area as revelers dancedinto the night.”
Let us thinkof this time as a huge step forward for an oppressed community and rememberthat we must continue to fight for equal rights as there is a long way to gofor many who are still victims of hate, fear, and ignorance.
The only wayto create further change is by continuing to talk about these pressing issues!
Photo Source: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/garrett_epps/rainbow%20flag%20article%20full%20reuters.jpg
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