Federal law does trump state law, when federal law exists. Same-sex couples may marry in any state or territory of the US.

But …

Civil rights law mostly doesn’t protect LGBTQ people on the federal level. No federal law says it’s impermissible to fire or evict somebody for being gay or trans.

So, we’re left with the bizarre situation where a couple can legally marry, like Mary and Bev in my story, and then be denied housing BECAUSE they married.

More than 70% of Americans think this is wrong and want federal civil rights protections to apply to LGBTQ people. Because of the fractured nature of our politics, though, the chances of that happening this year closely approach zero.