Here’s one easily-overlooked bit from the SCOTUS ruling that I dearly love. SCOTUS grants us the dignity of recognizing we not only want the rights of marriage, but the responsibilities too. Contrary to our opponents’ accusations, we are not cry-babies demanding rights, but adults with dignity claiming our full citizenship. This may not be the juiciest quote you read all day, but it’s so very important.
DOMA divests married same-sex couples of the duties and responsibilities that are an essential part of married life and that they in most cases would be honored to accept were DOMA not in force. For instance, because it is expected that spouses will support each other as they pursue educational opportunities, federal law takes into consideration a spouse’s income in calculating a student’s federal financial aid eligibility… Same-sex married couples are exempt from this requirement. The same is true with respect to federal ethics rules. Federal executive and agency officials are prohibited from “participat[ing] personally and substantially” in matters as to which they or their spouses have a financial interest…A similar statute prohibits Senators, Senate employees, and their spouses from accepting high-value gifts from certain sources…and another mandates detailed financial disclosures by numerous high-ranking officials and their spouses…Under DOMA, however, these Government-integrity rules do not apply to same-sex spouses.
Not just the rights, but the responsibilities as well.