Saturday, June 28, 2014

Rapidly changing attitudes on marriage equality

One year ago, in United States v Windsor, the Supreme Court ruled that parts of DOMA were unconstitutional, and the dominoes started falling.   

In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS agreed that Ms. Windsor, who was legally married at the time of her partner's death, should have been eligible for the same marital deduction that heterosexual couples get on their estate taxes.

Instead, because DOMA did not allow the government to recognize same-sex marriages that were legally performed, Ms. Windsor had to pay over $363,000 in taxes that a heterosexual surviving spouse would not have owed.    This SCOTUS decision changed that == and it has had a cascading effect on trials all over the country.

Since that decision exactly one year ago, 22 court decisions favorable to marriage equality have been made and not a single unfavorable decision.   Concomitantly, public attitudes are rapidly changing.   Now at least 50% in each of the four geographic regions of the country favor marriage equality.

Northeast:   68%
Midwest:      59%
West:             59%
South:           50%

Ralph

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