JACKSON, Miss.–The U.S. Supreme court ruled Wednesday that the Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, was unconstitutional.
This now means that same-sex marriages that are recognized and executed in states where it is legal, will now give each partner federal benefits like any other heterosexual couple.
“I believe it just a matter of time before hearts and minds change on the thinking of our relationships,” said Unity Mississippi spokesman Eddie Outlaw in a conversation he had with News Mississippi.
In the state of Mississippi same-sex marriage is not legal of course, but same-sex couples can still move in to the state and retain those federal benefits after their initial legal marriage somewhere else.
“I think it’s a great step forward for the LGBT community,” he said. “We are American citizens who deserve the same rights as everyone else.”
The same-sex couple won’t however qualify for any state benefits in the state because of the marriage ban.
Still though, Outlaw says he thinks progress and big steps for the LGBT community are underway.
“I do see a future, and a not so far distant future, where we’ll see same sex marriage in Mississippi.”
