Marriage Equality: What's the Next Step?

 As we all celebrate the amazing news, the fight is still on. Early yesterday morning, 2 major breakthroughs regarding same-sex marriage equality were announced. In the simplest terms, this is a time to cherish love, happiness, and long awaited unions. Same-sex relationships in California may now receive the fulfillment of taking the next step to legally marry their soul mate, which is a breathtaking gift in itself. While it is important to appreciate the beauty of the dismissal of DOMA and Prop 8, we must keep in mind there is still a long way to go regarding same-sex marriage equality.

The victories of yesterday takes same-sex marriage equality two leaps ahead, but the tough mudder is far from over. If DOMA has been marked unconstitutional for its lack to provide federal benefits to legally married gay couples, how far are we away from marking it unconstitutional to deny all same-sex marriage? Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, lent us a look into what’s next in the fight for equality. From this point out, we can expect to “set a new goal –within five years, we will bring marriage equality to all 50 states,” said Griffin.

Until the day comes where we can celebrate equality for all, yesterday’s rulings are a reminder to keep pushing and never give up. With all victories, we should set new goals and new standards. Each stride we make is one closer to providing equality for all, and I am absolutely ecstatic for all of the couples who are now able to tie the knot and receive and/or provide federal benefits with their spouse.