In a recent fury of legal battles based on appeal court circuit rulings, the number of states that allow gay marriage is now at a whopping 36. Among the large list is our very own sunflower state.

Kansas got the thumbs up on Nov. 12 for one of the most progressive changes our Bible-belted, primarily-red state has ever seen.

Couples across the state are seizing their opportunity to marry immediately. Same-sex couples are still clamoring for spots to be married in chapels across multiple counties since they are finally able to make their dreams a reality.

Why does this matter?

It allows people like me to have the same rights as any other citizen in the US. As much as people like to claim marriage is a sacred bond that excludes the queer population, they fail to see the discrimination and downright lack of power it gives to those committed to their long-term partners.

Allowing gay marriage stops the use of legal terms such as “domestic partnership” and “spousal equivalent,” which were the previous legal terms for same-sex couples that only caused legal confusion and imbalance in marital status. They only provided a new “separate but equal,” which is obviously not enough.

For example, right now unmarried same-sex partners are denied joint filing benefits and are often forced to misrepresent their family, requiring each separate parent to claim one child in the tax exemption process. In the case of a spouse’s death, the partner almost always isn’t permitted to handle the will of the deceased.

They are directly denied a title that holds both an emotion and legal meaning which gives them less rights as people. Allowing gay marriage gives power back to LGBTQ+ individuals that straight people automatically receive because of societal norms.

The recognition of these unions is essential for the representation of our nation. Canada, Norway, Spain, France, South Africa and others have already stepped up to decide what is fair for their people.

This nation’s tendency to discriminate against minorities has led to the mistreatment of its people and has caused a battle of morals based on the “sanctity of marriage.” Marriage should be based on the love and commitment that two people can share together, not about religious bias and heterosexual beliefs.

Ultimately, queer people are the only ones affected by this issue, but religious extremists have been kicking and screaming to maintain what they think is theirs.

Under the Constitution, church and state are separate, yet religious groups try to pass legislation to stop the gay movement. In order to get our own say in the way we want our lives to go, we have to keep fighting. We’re very close, but we still have a long way to go.

However, same-sex marriage is only a small step on the road to full equality. With this new progression in civil rights there will continue to be a stigma that ravages our country. I’ve personally experienced enough discrimination to know this to be true.

Strangers on the street have muttered passive-aggressive statements based on my attire. Homophobic slurs have been yelled at me from passing cars on numerous occasions just because of an equality bumper sticker.

I worry for our society and the way we’ve been raised to treat people. If someone can’t follow their dreams because of the ignorance of others, it’s a violation to our right to happiness. Marriage rights should be guaranteed for all people despite their sexual preferences. They don’t define you and do not hurt the future of society.

For the 14 states that still haven’t legalized it: I still have hope. Being human requires tolerance and equal opportunity, and I have no doubt justice will prevail.

Our strides have been long and are only getting longer. But until I can walk down a public street with my boyfriend or husband hand-in-hand without being discriminated against, I won’t be satisfied.