In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down DOMA declaring it “unconstitutional [and]…a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.”
What Does This Mean?
Well, it means that the American government must now recognize same-sex marriage on a federal level. Therefore, same-sex couples, who are legally married in states that recognize their marriage, are now eligible for federal benefits. They don’t have to pay inheritance tax. They get social security survivorship and federal income tax benefits just to name a few. For a list of the 1,138 federal rights of marriage, click here.
This is a huge win for married gay couples everywhere, and I can’t tell you how excited I am as well.
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder:
What Does the Decision Mean for Married Gay Couples who Don’t Live in a State that Recognizes Same-Sex Unions?
First of all, it means that my husband and I are still not married in Texas, which has defined a marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
This will hold true for similar couples living in the other 36 states that do not recognize same-sex unions.
However, on a federal level, married couples like my husband and me will be able enjoy the federal benefits that had been previously denied to us. So while our state doesn’t recognize my marriage, my country now does.
That’s definitely a step in the right direction.