But make no mistake: this is a landmark decision with far-reaching implications.

While social conservatives lost as little time in criticizing the decision as gay-rights activists and their allies did in celebrating it, the bipartisan team of lawyers who initially brought the case to court, Ted Olson and David Boies—who once faced off against each other in Bush v. Gore—illustrate the broader coalitions that can be formed on this cutting-edge issue. Our society is evolving and expanding its definition of civil rights to include full and equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans, including marriage. This historic decision is a reminder that the civil rights era is not over. The work of living up to our stated ideals continues every day, as we try to expand the reality of individual freedom beyond rhetoric.