Obviously I was upset yesterday. And sure, I should probably write about the pain flare I had last night while I was sleeping. But I just can’t. Today is too great a day to dwell on anything bad!
For those who don’t know. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that DOMA is unconstitutional, and it also ruled that Prop 8 had no standing. In English, the Defense of Marriage Act is dead, which means the federal government will now recognize same-sex marriages performed in the states where they are legal. The Proposition 8 ruling means that same-sex marriage is now legal in CA.
When I was younger, I just assumed that if I grew up and fell in love with a man then I’d get married, and if I fell in love with a woman we’d live together. That was it. Then in 2004, same-sex marriages started taking place in my home state of Massachusetts and everything changed. Suddenly, I could marry a woman! For some people this had an immediate affect. Since I was single, I wasn’t about to get married, but it still changed my attitude and also others’ perceptions of me. After all, if we’re equal enough to get married, maybe we’re just plain equal.
Even with more and more states recognizing same-sex marriages, the federal government did not. This affected taxes, inheritances, hospital visitation rights, health insurance, immigration, and so many other issues. I felt the inequality myself. I saw it affecting my married friends.
Today that changed. After days, months, years of waiting, we finally had the answer: the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government must recognize all marriages equally, just like it had before DOMA was created. I felt the initial excitement: WE WON! And then it started to sink in. I started to feel it. We won equality. We won rights. We were going to be treated the same as everyone else. I watched my Facebook and Twitter feeds fill up with the excitement. I saw the occasional detractor and dismissed them entirely. They’re falling behind the times. I have no doubt that one day soon, same-sex marriage will be legal throughout the country. The dominoes are falling. The objectors are realizing they have no valid points. The general public is realizing that if they’re straight, this really doesn’t affect them directly at all. And soon this will just be another embarrassing part of history.
I usually make an effort to write only about chronic illness-related issues but, well, this is my blog so I can write whatever the hell I want, right? And today I really can’t write about anything else. It’s too great a day.
Chronic Rants 
That was really good news. Long awaited. I was up late last night watching Wendy Davis and the Texas legislature. Interesting that they tried t turn the clock back on the vote.
Congrats, and as you say, you can write about whatever you want!!
What Senator Davis did was really incredible. I wanted to write about her too, but I ran out of energy. I hope they manage to block the bill again next week!
We heard it on our news. Definitely a day to celebrate!
Hugs
Lorna x
That’s exactly how I feel right now. In the wake of gay marriages resuming in California this afternoon, I just said to another lesbian, “Congratulations! We really have more rights now!” This is so awesome!
It’s amazing how much can change with one ruling! Let’s just hope we keep making great progress!
Another “hallelujah” moment: the State of Illinois legislature has passed, and the Governor will sign, our bill making same-sex marriage legal here, too!! Happy Dancing… 🙂
And now Hawaii! We’re really making progress 🙂