To the Victors Go the Spoils!

The taste of Victory was sweet in the mouths of the LGBTQ community nationwide yesterday when the historical decisions were handed down by the Supreme Court.  Ruling that DOMA was unconstitutional paved the way for all legally wed same sex couples to avail themselves of all the rights, privileges, responsibilities and benefits awarded to heterosexual couples by the Federal Government simply by being legally wed.  There is some confusion as some of the benefits are based on the state of residency rather than on the state where the vows of matrimony were entered into.  The Obama Administration has promised to clear this up by making the state of celebration rather than the state of residency the basis for the awarding of benefits across the board.  A Primer on what the decision means to you in life after DOMA can be found by clicking here.  The Pentagon has already announced that by October 1, spousal benefits will be extended to all legally wed service members regardless of sexual orientation.  

The Court also ruled that the Proponents of Prop 8 had no standing (authority) to defend the law when the State of California refused to do so, finding that there was no harm or damage to the proponents by the allowance of same sex couples to marry.  The Court said in more formal language that basically the proponents were bat shit crazy fundamentalist wackos hell bent on denigrating homosexuals and destroying their dignity simply because they did not like them which is not allowed under the equal protection amendments of the Constitution.  The ruling sent the case back to the state where the lower court ruling of unconstitutionality was upheld.  Couples could begin marrying as soon as the end of July when the injunction staying the effect of the ruling will be lifted.  Governor Jerry Brown has also already instructed county officials across California to begin issuing Marriage Licenses to same sex couples. 

Though the war is not over, this battle has been won, setting legal precedents that will affect future rulings on the Civil Rights of the LGBTQ community.  Things definitely got better for us as a result of these rulings including these 10 things that happened as a result of the rulings.  You can read Towleroad legal correspondent Ari Waldman's expert analysis of the DOMA ruling and the Prop 8 ruling by clicking on the appropriate links.  While this Victory has been hard fought and won, our job is not done until the same freedoms enjoyed by the LGBTQ citizens of the 13 states and Washington DC that allow marriage equality is extended to us in all 50 states in this great nation.  

Our opponents in the major, minor or otherwise right wing nut organizations are today a study in apoplexy as they babble and blather the usual lies, distortions and fake facts about us as usual.  They are all acting like spoiled children throwing fits because they were denied the cookies and milk they thought were their due.  Too bad, so sad, get the fuck over it!  The United States is a secular nation with separation of church and state as a fact of life, so take your religious crock of shit and peddle it elsewhere, we ain't buying it no more!

To celebrate the day, your Musical Moment today is comprised of three Sonatas for Cello and Piano by Ludwig von Beethoven; Number 2, Opus 5/2 in G Minor; Number 3, Opus 69 in A Major and Number 1, Opus 5/1 in F Major. All performed by Daniel Shafran on Cello and Anton Ginzburg on Piano from this CD.  Also to help you celebrate the day are a bevy of beautiful men in this collection of Couples and Couplings for your examination and appreciation as you scroll down the page.  Thank you for sharing part of this day with me here at Nichevo, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!