Opinion: DADT: Check. Now on to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and marriage equality

Important as the [Senate’s] vote was, the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ leaves unfinished business for advocates of equality. For example, Congress has yet to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would make it illegal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in the workplace. They can now choose a military career without fear of discrimination but not — in many states — a job in the private sector. Obama should make approval of the act a priority in the new Congress. The most conspicuous unfulfilled aspiration is marriage equality for gays and lesbians. No one pretends that Congress is likely any time soon to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman and allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. But the same was once said about Congress’ willingness to abolish ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ As in that case, advocates of marriage equality need to keep up the fight.