Though the past year was perhaps one of spectacular gains for the LGBTQ community, it looks as if, yet again, key issues for the transgender community will have lackluster support in the 113th Congress, with the House still controlled by Republicans. Remarkable gains in this Congress, with openly gay Tammy Baldwin taking one of the Senate seats for Wisconsin and Elizabeth Warren taking one of the Senate seats for Massachusetts, do bring hope for a future Congress with a mandate on full LGBTQ equality, but not in the immediate future.
In March the Supreme Court of the United States will hear two of the marriage equality cases out there. The decision will not necessarily be a clear victory for advocates of marriage equality, given that many states still have legislation and constitutional amendments preventing same-gender marriage.
There are valid reasons for upholding the fight for marriage equality, such as much fairer tax laws, survivor benefits and the like for same-gender couples, but should the Supreme Court find the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, will the progressive movement achieve the same level of support for other issues affecting the LGBTQ community, particular economic issues?