The Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in favor of marriage equality for same-sex couples has raised questions of whether the decision will accelerate legislation extending civil rights protections to LGBT people.
Brian Powell, professor in the Indiana University Department of Sociology, said on WFIU's Noon Edition that he wasn't surprised by the court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
"To me the question was, simply, is it going to be a 5-4 decision or a 6-3 decision," Powell says. "I think for most Americans it's maybe a surprise but it's not inconsistent with where Americans are right now."
Between 58 and 60 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage.
But despite the increasing public support, Powell says he's not optimistic about the legislature extending civil rights protections to LGBT people in the next legislative session.
"I guess I'm not as optimistic about that — yet," Powell says. "In a few years, maybe, but not yet."
State legislators are likely to spar over LGBT civil protections in next year's legislative session.