Though it’s been a year since the Supreme Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), both political and public opinion is evolving. On Wednesday, federal courts in Utah and Indiana overturned a ban against same-sex marriages, citing crucial violations of the 14th Amendment. Forty-three years after college students Richard Baker and James McConnell were denied a marriage license, 19 states now legally recognize gay marriage. Wednesday’s decision set a major precedent for similar cases pending in New Mexico, Virginia and Oklahoma, among others. With a majority of Americans in favor of marriage equality, the case has led some members of the opposition to reconsider their positions. Following Wednesday’s ruling, Senator Susan Collins from Maine became the fourth Republican senator to publicly support same-sex marriage. Whether the issue continues to be politicized, the LGBT community is already a visible part of American society. Take a look through the magazines below to see what equality really looks like in the 21st century.
