On June 26, 2015, the United States witnessed a historic moment in civil rights when the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges, affirming the right to same-sex marriage across all states. This pivotal decision, articulated by then-Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, emphasized that the Constitution guarantees equal dignity under the law. The ruling marked the end of a fragmented legal landscape where some states recognized same-sex marriages while others imposed bans.
Before the Obergefell ruling, same-sex marriage was legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia. However, only 16 states had proactively legalized it, while others had existing bans deemed unconstitutional by federal courts. The Supreme Court stepped into the fray after the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld these bans in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee in November 2014. The decision was a culmination of decades of debate, with early steps taken by states such as Hawaii in 1997 and Massachusetts in 2004, which became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The immediate aftermath of the Obergefell ruling saw same-sex couples rushing to marry. Marcia Kadish, one of the first to marry in Massachusetts, expressed that they already felt married, and the ruling simply made it official. In Michigan, couples like Lauren Brown and Lindsey Wren celebrated their marriages within hours of the decision. “It’s amazing how fast it went from being nothing to being legally married,” Brown reflected, encapsulating the joy and relief felt by countless couples across the nation.
For many same-sex couples, legal recognition brought not just joy but also a sense of security. In Georgia, Christie Baer voiced her relief about being able to adopt her partner Kindra's daughter, a significant step in solidifying their family unit. “It’s very stressful to be in a relationship and know that at any point and time if you break up, this child who you have raised as your own could be taken away from you,” Baer shared, highlighting the profound implications of the ruling on families.
According to a report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, the decade following the Obergefell decision saw a significant increase in married same-sex couples, particularly in the South. From 2014 to 2023, the percentage of cohabiting same-sex couples who were married grew by 21%, climbing from 38% to 59%. As of this month, there are an estimated 823,000 married same-sex couples in the U.S., more than double the number from a decade ago.
In 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act was enacted, redefining marriage as a union between two individuals rather than strictly between a man and a woman. This bipartisan legislation also prohibits states from denying recognition of out-of-state marriages based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. However, the fight for marriage equality remains contentious, with some lawmakers seeking to challenge the Obergefell ruling, echoing sentiments similar to the abortion debate surrounding Roe v. Wade.
As we commemorate a decade since the Obergefell ruling, the future of same-sex marriage hangs in a delicate balance. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who dissented in the original ruling, have indicated their openness to reconsidering the case. With various states pushing for a Supreme Court review, the ruling's stability remains uncertain. Until any potential changes occur, the Obergefell decision continues to be a cornerstone of marriage equality in the United States.
