Given that each of these cases involved a challenge by the proponents of marriage inequality to a federal appeals court ruling that struck down discriminatory state statutes, the summary rejection of the writ petition leaves less uncertainty than would a grant of a hearing.

It seems fairly clear that the members of the Supreme Court who reject marital inequality are a distinct minority. There has only been one isolated decision, issued by the disgraced U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman, which has upheld a same sex marriage ban.

The swift SCOTUS denial of a hearing in this instance sends a clear message to the U.S. 5th Circuit which is expected to hear an appeal of Feldman's decision. If the 5th Circuit were to overrule Feldman, that, of itself, would pretty much put the issue to bed.

Ever notice that cases in the supreme court these days happen at different rates according to stature.

Money is free speech: BOOM!
George W. Bush is the president: BAM!
Voting rights curtailed: ZAP!

Gay marriage rights: “like sands through the hour glass”…

For what it's worth, I expected them to deny cert, pretty much for all of the reasons Norman Goldman gave on his show today. The anti-gay justices didn't like their chances with the current lineup of justices, and the others didn't see any good reason to interfere with the wave of marriage equality states and actual marriages spreading across the country, making it harder and harder to reverse the trend. The Fifth Circuit does indeed appear to be the key.