Conclusion

We’ve seen that…

marriage is a fundamental civil right, based on state and federal constitutions’ guarantees of privacy, freedom, and equality
allowing same-sex couples to marry follows well-established legal precedents, and
the work for the right of same-sex couples to marry has been going on pretty steadily since the early ‘70s.

The Goodridges
of Massachusetts

Looking ahead…

Cases in California, Iowa and Connecticut will eventually be decided. We have the dim prospect for a federal constitutional amendment. And we’ll also have additional state constitutional amendments.

We expect change and progress. But it’s going to be awhile before there’s a same-sex equivalent to Loving v. Virginia.

Norman Rockwell-esque painting of a male couple getting a marriage license