All loving couples deserve equal rights under the law, and the U.S. Supreme Court has an important opportunity to help make that a reality.
Two years ago, the Supreme Court took a step toward marriage equality when it declared Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. Now with the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges before the court, justices can ensure marriages of all couples throughout our nation are recognized, no matter what state they happen to live in.
Before the oral arguments in April, I joined more than 200 of my colleagues in signing an amicus brief, adding our voices to the chorus of millions of Americans who support marriage equality.
Yet 13 states still refuse to recognize same-sex marriages, even while more than 70 percent of Americans live in jurisdictions where all couples have equal rights.
Luckily, we live in a progressive state that was a pioneer in marriage equality. Washington voters legalized same-sex marriage in 2012 with Referendum 74. But if a same-sex couple legally married in Washington state decides to move to Ohio, they could be denied important rights and protections, such as hospital visitations and death benefits.
It’s shameful that in 2015, our nation still has yet to fully understand that love between two people is, quite simply, love.
I recently had the honor and privilege of officiating the wedding of my chief of staff and his husband. Like all of the weddings I’ve witnessed, it was a beautiful and festive gathering of friends and families. It’s unjust to deny them the same rights my husband and I have.
I told them that the core of marriage is more than just love. It also takes respect, trust, humility, dedication and faith in each other. It’s what I would have said to any young couple I deeply care about.
Both Aaron and Justin told me that growing up, they never thought they would have the opportunity to get married. Fortunately, they live in the District of Columbia where their marriage is recognized, but if they decided to move to their home states of Texas or Michigan, currently, they’d lose these rights.
We’ve seen incredible progress during the past decade. The country is moving in the right direction and rejecting the antiquated idea that same-sex couples are somehow different and undeserving of equal rights.
Our country should be on the right side of history when it comes to marriage equality. The Supreme Court will issue its decision in June, and I hope the Justices see that love is love and all couples deserve equality under our laws.
But even after the Supreme Court ruling, more work will need to be done to end hateful discriminatory laws and ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have full equality. For example, employers can still fire LGBT Americans based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and lenders can deny them credit based on who they are and who they love.
This is wrong, and I will continue to fight until all Americans have equal rights and protections.
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Washington, represents the 1st Congressional District.
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