The day millions of people and families across the country have been waiting for is finally here. Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in four same-sex marriage cases today – consolidated and referred to collectively as Obergefell v. Hodges – marriage equality is now the law of the land in all 50 states.
This is a historic and remarkable victory for our nation’s commitment to fundamental equality, and a tremendous testament to the hard work, perseverance and sacrifices made by so many LGBT advocates, activists, allies and individuals throughout the country.
The Court’s decision was clear: States can no longer ban or refuse to recognize same-sex marriages. This means that not only can same-sex couples marry no matter where they live, but also that they have equal access to state and federal rights and protections – for tax purposes, health care, Social Security and more.
Today marks an important step on the road to equality in this country, but there is more work to do to ensure equal rights and freedom from bias and discrimination in our nation’s workplaces and throughout society. We all lose when inequality remains, and that’s why continued progress is critical.
