Today saw New York’s 2^nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals strike down the ridiculous Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

The ruling came as a result of a case that is one of the many reasons why same-sex marriage should and needs to be legalized on a national level.

Edith Windsor, a widow who happens to be a lesbian, was denied spousal deductions due to her same-sex marriage not being recognized by the federal government as a marriage under DOMA, resulting in $363,000 of estate taxes.  She married her partner Thea Spyer in Canada in 2007; they were together for 40 years until Spyer’s death in 2009.

Striking down DOMA with a Balboa-worthy punch, the court cited a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14^th amendment for their decision, a subject we discussed in a previous entry Sex Toy Story, as to how same-sex marriage is essentially already protected under our Constitution.

Last year, President Obama’s administration ordered the Justice Department to no longer defend the discriminating marriage Act, which was originally signed in by former President Bill Clinton.

Predictably, the GOP candidates were upset at the decision. Even hipster favorite Ron Paul released in a statement: “The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted in 1996 to stop Big Government in Washington from re-defining marriage and forcing its definition on the States.  Like the majority of Iowans, I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and must be protected.”

I’m calling bullshit on Paul’s claim that most Iowans agree with his stance.  In a survey taken four months later, 61.3% of Iowans supported same-sex marriage.

I like to imagine when Rick Santorum heard the news of the Obama administration’s decision, he quickly barricaded himself in a room, expecting the vengeful rise of the Kraken.

The subject of equality is a topic that should never be up for debate and yet, the issues of same-sex marriage and equal pay for women have become headliners during this election season.

With landmark decisions like the one made in New York, we are getting closer to the days when equality will no longer be up for discussion; it is simply accepted.