At first, I hesitated a lot about writing this entry, as I think most of you wouldn't be familiar with the topic I'm going to discuss (unless you're a human rights activist or a news whore...). Then I decided to write it anyway, since today is so important a day, and it would be a pity if there's no special entry to mark it.
For your information, today is the day SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) issues its ruling on two historic cases: Proposition 8 and DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). Prop 8 is a law specific to California that forbids same-sex couples from having the same marriage rights as their heterosexual counterparts. On the other hand, DOMA is a law that prevents federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage, even if the individual states allow it. Those two laws are unconstitutional and extremely harmful, not only to the people directly affected, but also to society as a whole. That's why marriage equality proponents have worked tirelessly for the past 3 years to strike down these two immoral laws. In fact, they have won all the lower courts, and the cases are now advanced to the highest court. SCOTUS decisions are likely to be announced at 10 PM 26/6/2013 (GMT+7).
What is my prediction? Well, I strongly believe DOMA would be struck down, as even the President that signed it into law in 1996 (President Bill Clinton) now renounced his support and said that DOMA is unconstitutional and must be destroyed. The chance for Prop 8 is slimmer, but I think we will win anyway, although the ruling will be very narrow and confined only to California. It will take a few years before marriage equality would take place nationwide, thanks to religion and co.
Whether the rulings are a milestone or a setback, I don't know, but it's still a historic day in the continuous struggle of LGBT community, and I'm looking forward to it.
If you wanna know more about these two cases, visit Equality on Trial
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