While marriage equality supporters across the country celebrate today’s Supreme Court decision, Florida’s same-sex married couples are left out.

Supreme Court justices voted 5-4 to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to married same-sex couples, but did not address state laws that invalidate same-sex unions.

Florida has both a state statute and an amendment to its constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman and declaring invalid same-sex marriages entered into in other states.

[VIDEO]  Coverage of the Fort Lauderdale Day of Decision Rally

Today’s rulings are a major step forward for the country, but for Floridians they fall far short of justice and are more than anything a call to action.

For those of us who live in state’s like Florida where our marriages are still not recognized, today’s rulings are a reminder that we cannot wait for justice to be handed to us, we are going to have to get engaged and fight.

A majority of Floridians support the freedom to marry, and this is our moment to stand up and get engaged on the right side of history.

Equality Florida defendió hoy que, tras la decisión del Supremo de invalidar la ley que define el matrimonio como la unión de un hombre y una mujer, es momento de que Florida se movilice y exija a sus autoridades el reconocimiento del matrimonio gay en este estado.

South Floridians reacted to the Supreme Court's rulings Wednesday, which overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act and rejected the appeal of a California marriage ban.

"It's a great decision, but I just think that there's a lot of growth that Florida needs to overcome," said Melanie Alenier.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down two landmark decisions Wednesday – both by 5-4 votes. 

The Court first struck down the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA.  Next, it vacated a lower court’s decision on California’s Proposition 8.  While this latter decision didn’t set up marriage as a civil right, it does clear the way for gay marriages to resume in California. 

Wednesday's US Supreme Court rulings have been celebrated by same-sex supporters across our area.

But since gay marriage is not recognized by Florida, the fight in the Sunshine state is just beginning.

‘Equality Florida' is the state's largest LGBT civil rights organization.

‘Equality Florida' Executive Director Brian Winfield said, "This is a quantum leap forward for our whole nation."

El grupo Equality Florida, que defiende los derechos de los homosexuales, anunció hoy el lanzamiento a nivel estatal de la campaña "Get Engaged" (Comprométete) con el objetivo de derogar la prohibición del matrimonio homosexual en este estado.

El grupo Equality Florida, que defiende los derechos de los homosexuales, anunció hoy el lanzamiento a nivel estatal de la campaña "Get Engaged" (Comprométete) con el objetivo de derogar la prohibición del matrimonio homosexual en este estado.

'Gay-Straight' student group prompts discussion about bullying in schools

When 14-year-old Bayli Silberstein, an eighth-grader heading the effort to start a Gay-Straight Alliance at Carver Middle School, applied to start her club she and fellow students hoped the group would help to combat bullying of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

Democrats, Gay Rights Activists Push Florida Bill That Would Set Up Domestic Partnership Registry

Democrats, attorneys and gay rights activists gathered on the fourth floor of the state Capitol Monday trying to change minds about same-sex couples.

Gallery | Equality Florida honors poet Richard Blanco, activists Robert Loupo, David Bloom

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Hillsborough County Commissioners, GLBTA and Equality Florida talk domestic partner registry

Last week, domestic partnership registries unanimously passed in two more local Florida governments. On Tuesday, March 12, the Venice City Council passed the measure, and the Leon County Commission followed suit the next day.

Senator Sobel Calls for Across-The-State Rights for Domestic Partners

Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said at a press conference today that SB 196 would solve the “patchwork” problem of some counties and cities having domestic-partner registries and others that do not.

Domestic Partnership Bill on Hold; Equality Florida Reacts

The Pinellas County school board counted 245 emails as of Monday afternoon from people who support the board's majority vote to stop funding a character education program offered by a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America.

One more reason to end marriage discrimination Here's the latest from the New York Times

It took five attempts for one prospective college student and her mother to fill out the 106-question federal form that would determine whether she would be eligible for financial aid. And that was not just because the form was frustratingly complicated. 

What tripped them up was the fact that the student had two legal mothers — and the form had room for only one.