This Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service ruled "that same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes... regardless of whether the couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or a jurisdiction that does not recognize same-sex marriage." While not a dramatic victory, this report is just one of many indicators of the constantly accelerating campaign for equality for LGBT+ persons, another reassurance for gay and civil rights groups.
The ruling itself was an extension of the landmark Supreme Court case United States v. Windsor in which Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was declared unconstitutional - a clear and cut example of judicial review, a check from the judicial branch on the legislative. Section 3 of DOMA effectively restricted federal acknowledgement of same-sex married couples. Yesterdays report was a confirmation of the "federal tax aspects" of the case. Further change is inevitable - its only a question of what the next event will be to shift civil rights towards further equality.
New York Times Articles on the IRS ruling and the original DOMA strike down
Thursday Night Open Thread
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