June 26, 2025, marks the tenth anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage across all 50 states.
In a 5–4 ruling handed down on June 26, 2015, the Court declared that denying marriage to same-sex couples was unconstitutional, affirming that love is love — and love is law.
The Road to Obergefell
Marriage equality didn’t happen overnight.
The modern legal push began in the early 1990s, with activists challenging discriminatory laws state by state.
In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage after a court decision, setting off a slow but powerful domino effect.
By the time the Supreme Court ruled in 2015, 36 states and the District of Columbia already allowed same-sex marriage, either through court decisions, legislation, or popular vote.
But patchwork rights weren’t enough — especially when couples could marry in one state and find their union void in another.
Enter Jim Obergefell, who sued the state of Ohio for refusing to recognize his marriage to his dying husband, John Arthur.
The case united dozens of similar lawsuits under one name — and changed American history.
Impact on Society and LGBTQ+ Lives
Marriage equality has had profound legal, cultural, and emotional consequences.
Legally, it guaranteed equal rights to thousands of LGBTQ+ couples — access to tax benefits, inheritance rights, hospital visitation, joint adoption, and spousal protections under federal law.
Culturally, it reshaped how LGBTQ+ people are seen — not just as citizens deserving equal rights, but as families worthy of dignity and recognition.
Marriage equality also helped shift public opinion; in 2015, about 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage. In 2024, that number had grown to around 71% (Pew Research).
Perhaps most significantly, it allowed millions of LGBTQ+ people to live and love openly, with legal affirmation backing emotional truth.
Stars Who Said “I Do”
As soon as marriage equality became law, some celebrities helped bring visibility to the moment with public weddings.
Lance Bass of *NSYNC and his husband Michael Turchin married in 2014 in California, but their televised wedding became even more symbolic after 2015, as they were one of the first same-sex couples to marry on U.S. television.
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, longtime partners and parents, married in Italy in 2014 but became poster boys for modern queer family life in the U.S. after the decision.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita wed in 2013, with Ferguson using his platform on Modern Family to advocate for equality in a time when visibility truly mattered.
Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory married his partner Todd Spiewak in 2017, calling their relationship “the greatest thing that’s ever happened” to him.
Still More to Do
While marriage equality was a milestone, it was never a finish line.
Trans rights, LGBTQ+ healthcare access, anti-discrimination protections, and protections from religious exemptions continue to be battlegrounds.
In 2022, the U.S. Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act, codifying marriage equality into federal law amid fears the Supreme Court could revisit past decisions.
The LGBTQ+ community still faces attacks, particularly trans and nonbinary people, and queer people of color.
But marriage equality gave the movement a powerful tool — both legal and emotional — for demanding that love and dignity are non-negotiable.
A Decade of Dignity
Ten years on, it’s not just about cake and rings — it’s about recognition, resilience, and joy.
From the courthouse to the chapel, from celebrity spotlights to small-town vows, marriage equality has transformed American life — and affirmed that queer love is as real, messy, sacred, and beautiful as any other.