Gay and lesbian couples and allies in Idaho cheered earlier this week when news broke of a federal judge ruling the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. According to Freedom to Marry, “On May 13, 2014 U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale, a federal judge in Idaho, ruled in favor of the freedom to marry, striking down the state’s discriminator constitutional amendment that bans same-sex couples from marriage.” This happy news comes at a time when marriage equality initiatives seem to be gaining momentum in the United States.
Notes Freedom to Marry, “It’s been an amazing few months for marriage – and across the country, same-sex couples are rejoicing in the reality that it’s time for marriage nationwide.” Earlier this year, we wrote about how Michigan is one step closer to marriage equality, and how Virginia became the first southern state to overturn its state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Earlier this month, an Arkansas judge upheld same-sex couples’ freedom to marry, and Oklahoma residents were able to watch the state’s first pro-marriage equality ad on television, representing a true sign of the times.
Marriage equality initiatives are gaining momentum.
Image: Ted Eytan via Flickr CC
Freedom to Marry is one of our favorite resources for keeping up on the status of marriage equality in each state. It’s truly inspiring to see more and more federal judges and policymakers coming out in favor of the freedom to marry. According to Adam Polaski for Freedom to Marry, Judge Candy Dale’s ruling “is the 16th consecutive victory in state and federal court for the freedom to marry since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Windsor v. United States in June 2013. The ruling is the 12th win in federal court for marriage since June.”
If our country’s law and government officials continue to be open to marriage equality, at this rate, same-sex marriage could very well be completely legal in just a handful of years. Of course, for couples that have been together for decades and are still waiting for their state to recognize their relationship, a handful of years might feel like having to wait another lifetime. With this in mind, it’s important to continue discussing the importance of marriage equality, dismantle conservative, traditional notions of family, and keep working to create a more equal world.
Learn more about how marriage equality is moving forward in Idaho by visiting Freedom to Marry.