LGBTQ

The Supreme Court makes gay marriage legal in all 50 states

Gay marriage is now legal in 50 states in the U.S.

Published

11 years ago

June 26, 2015

UVM Staff

Photo by Uriel Mont

Today is a monumental day in history for gay marriage. What a perfect day in the month of June, which all month celebrates LGBT pride.

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that the U.S. Constitution requires states to license and recognize same-sex marriages, making marriage equality official for all of the United States.

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority.

Gay Marriage legalized

“In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. 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. 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.”

Marriage equality is something that this country has been fighting for and finally you’ll be able to marry the one you love no matter the gender.

“If you are among the many Americans—of whatever sexual orientation—who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it,” the chief justice concluded.

The ruling

The ruling means the 14th Amendment requires states to license marriage of two people of the same-sex, and must also recognize marriages performed in another state.

President Obama called the ruling a “big step in our march toward equality.”

Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins

— President Obama (@POTUS) June 26, 2015