The United States Supreme Court refused to take up the appeals of five states that wanted it to overturn lower court rulings that scuttled the states’ bans on same-sex marriage.  The high court’s refusal to rule effectively legalizes Marriage Equality in those states.

The court did not explain why it was not taking up the issue.  That didn’t bother activists, to whom a win is a win.

“Any time same-sex couples are extended marriage equality is something to celebrate, and today is a joyous day for thousands of couples across America who will immediately feel the impact of today's Supreme Court action,” said Chad Griffin, president of the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign.

By not even considering the lower court ruling, the conservative-controlled court sidestep a very contentious issue and ensures that there no imminent national ruling on the matter – taking the wind out of the debate a month before America’s mid-term elections.  A decision next year would either support marriage equality and deal a blow to conservatives, or strike it down and risk galvanizing the majority of Americans who believe that consenting adults should be able to marry other consenting adults.

America’s patchwork of different freedoms in different states now adds Virginia, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin, and Indiana to the 19 other states that already legalize or were forced to legalize same-sex marriage rights by court order, and civil ceremonies commenced pretty quickly.  Another six states will more than likely be forced to comply with the lower court rulings, bringing the total number to 30 states with Marriage Equality.  Activists would no doubt target the remaining 20 states, where citizens have fewer rights than the rest of the country.