The strike-down of DOMA is a giant step in the right direction toward ensuring equality for all American citizens!
Today’s decision means that federal benefits, like Social Security and income tax, can extend to same-sex couples who have been legally married in the state in which they reside. It applies only to federal benefits of marriage.
BUT, the Supreme Court ruling today does not mean that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states.
Problems arise in this ruling in several areas, including the application to military families spread out across state lines. Couples who have income sources from different states may have to file some tax forms jointly and others as single individuals. Corporations who have employees in several states may have to allow benefits to some and not to others. Also, legally married same-sex couples who reside in a state that does not recognize their marriage do not yet qualify for marriage benefits.
This has the potential to create a huge logistical and application problem for government officials.
But this excites us at Faith Aloud, as we look forward to the flood of litigation brought forth by same-sex couples residing in states that do not recognize their legally-obtained marriages.
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