Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday that the federal government will recognize same-sex marriages in seven more states — Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.
“With their long-awaited unions, we are slowly drawing closer to full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans nationwide,” Holder said.
Federal recognition in those additional seven states, including the extension of federal benefits, was a foregone conclusion because of recent court rulings. The Supreme Court on Oct. 6 declined to review lower-court decisions invalidating gay marriage bans.