The historic, landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, upholding the right of same-sex couples to marry across the country, will be celebrated nationally by many gay and lesbian citizens and those who support them.

The real cause for celebration will come when the tension has dissipated and nobody thinks about this issue as controversial at all — a transition that may take time for those within religious and traditionalist circles.

Resistance was displayed almost instantaneously — from Louisiana, where officials sought to delay issuing licenses, and from social conservative candidates in the 2016 presidential race.

That immediate drama will play out, and in the longer term, the opposition surely will continue to have misgivings, given the contentious nature of the debate.

But truly, the principal goal — to give all Americans the same opportunity to participate in society’s practices and customs and to reap its benefits — has been attained.

Hawaii played a special role in the pursuit of marriage equality, if only at the starting line. In his written statement on Friday, Gov. David Ige celebrated the fact that Hawaii "has truly led the way" and "galvanized the national conversation on the right of same-sex couples to marry."

In 1993 the state Supreme Court ruled that denying the right to same-sex marriage violated the Hawaii Constitution. It was the first state ruling of its kind. Written by Justice Steven H. Levinson, the decision was among the events triggering the legal battles that followed.

Locally, the electorate voted to change the Constitution, enabling the Legislature to pass a law restricting marriage to heterosexual couples. Congress also responded, ultimately passing the Defense of Marriage Act.

After its initial push, Hawaii lagged behind other states engaged in the campaign. It was only in 2011 that civil unions became an option for gay couples, with the Legislature two years later finally reversing itself to legalize full marriage rights for same-sex couples.

What essentially happened in the interim is that gay and lesbian people fought to be recognized as full participants in society rather than to be kept on the margins.

It was at first the activists who shouldered this effort, but increasingly the broader gay community "came out" to family and friends.

Popular culture began more accurately to reflect the diversity of society, including its gay members.

And it became insupportable to deny people we all know the right to enjoy their lives in the same way as anyone else.

That is how the tide of popular opinion began to turn, and with it, the tide of legislative and judicial decisionmaking.

In his eloquent majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy captured just what was at stake for same-sex couples:

"Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."

Kennedy’s legal argument was one of equal protection, but that was bolstered and made even more persuasive by his emotional rhetoric in support of marriage as a foundational right, one that strengthens society by giving people support within their households. It is within families that children are raised most successfully, and the research plainly shows that children do well with loving same-sex parents, too.

"As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death," he wrote. "It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves."

Now that the way has been cleared for more couples who wish to choose marriage, the hope is that the newly assured right can settle in naturally.

What we need is respite from battle, so weddings can resume as the joyously private celebrations that they are. Divisions will heal, but that will take time.

President Barack Obama has acknowledged in the past that his own position on same-sex marriage "evolved." This happened over the course of only a few years, undoubtedly in response to the rapidly shifting political and social landscape of America.

Whatever the reason, he has since stood on the side of marriage equality, and in his own post-decision statement noted that marriage equality is a benefit for all society, giving more of its people access to institutions that make it stable.

"We have made our union a little more perfect," he observed correctly.

And perfecting our union will take continued work, and understanding, from all of us.