Exactly 13 years ago today, same-sex couples gained the right to marry in a U.S. state for the first time. In the U.K., on the same day, the government repealed Section 28, which had prevented local authorities from “promoting homosexuality.” Three years to the day later, my spouse and I made our own marriage legal.
A federal judge has ruled that Mississippi’s new law allowing clerks to refuse to issue marriage licenses because of their religious beliefs violates the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality. The winning lawyer is Roberta Kaplan, who represented Edie Windsor in her historic case that shattered the Defense of Marriage Act.
A year ago yesterday, same-sex couples across the country gained the right to marry. Mary Bonauto, who argued the case before the U.S. Supreme Court, and Julie and Hilary Goodridge, whom she represented in the earlier case that won marriage equality in Massachusetts, spoke recently about what we’ve achieved—and how much further we have to go.
Today is a day to remember. Twelve years ago today, same-sex couples gained the right to marry in a U.S. state for the first time. In the U.K., on the same day, the government repealed Section 28, which had prevented local authorities from “promoting homosexuality.” And three years to the day later, my spouse and I made our own marriage legal.
I love the start of fall. It’s still warm, but without the oppressive edge of summer heat. The nights are cool, and the air brings with it the smell of leaves about to change. It’s my favorite time of year for bike riding, when I can pedal past the first hints of yellow and orange in the foliage and feel the change of season in my bones. We’re at a season change in LGBTQ equality, too, I thought to myself on a recent ride.
It seemed fitting that the day after marriage equality became law across the United States, my family and I went on vacation to Maine and Canada.
I’ve been married to my spouse for 22 years. Only nine of them have been as legal spouses, however, and until June 26, even that legality came with an asterisk: “Void where prohibited.”
All same-sex parents and prospective parents in the U.S. should drop everything to go read this vital information on protecting your parental rights even after you have marital rights. The two are still not one and the same.
We won! The U.S. Supreme Court has just ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have the right to marry in all states.
There’s been a stunning transformation in arguments about marriage equality since the Prop 8 battle in 2008. The heart of the change? The role of children.
