General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Cui Bono if Joy Ann Reid is taken down? [View all]Hekate
(90,633 posts)And the laws changed.
A key component: the POTUS is Commander in Chief of our military forces.
First, there was the Pentagon survey about how military personnel felt about LGBT soldiers and same-sex marriage. Result: the younger generation on the whole does not care. I think a lot of us already knew that.
A few more steps, and the military declared it would recognize the same-sex spouses of military personnel. This was HUGE, because may I remind you there are military bases in all 50 states, and all 50 states are bound to recognize legal contracts from other states. Military personnel live in the civilian communities surrounding those bases, forcing recognition by locals.
Naturally the SCOTUS decision played a really big part, but in my opinion an absolutely major step was taken when the CIC directed the US Armed Forces to come into the 21st century, just as the Armed Forces were directed to racially integrate a few generations before that.
But hey, I know Obama didn't ride in on a unicorn that farted rainbows and he didn't have a magic wand.
He just got the job done.