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Gay marriage bans are toppling around the country since last year’s Supreme Court ruling striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA. While the high court did not legalize gay marriage, it did find it unconstitutional for the federal government to deny federal benefits like social security to same-sex married couples.

Since the DOMA ruling, there have been 80 challenges at the federal and state level to same-sex marriage bans in 31 states. In dozens of those challenges, gay marriage bans have been ruled unconstitutional.

Now the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling striking down Utah’s ban on gay marriage, is being heralded by LGBT activists as one which could clear the way to the Supreme Court. A high court ruling in favor of gay marriage could enshrine the institution uniformly across the US.

Recent Gallup polls have found that over 50% of Americans are currently in favor of gay marriage compared to 1996 when only 27% were in favor. Still, conservative politicians are scrambling to prevent court rulings from taking effect.

GUEST: Stuart Gaffney, media director of Marriage Equality USA

Visit www.marriageequality.org for more information.