In a 5-4 ruling the Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage in all 50 states. This decision was made on June 26, 2015.

Homosexual couples are now acknowledged on official documents such as birth and death certificates. In celebration of equal rights for all persons who wish to unite as one, 

millions of Americans marched in gay pride parades across the country.

“The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy, and spirituality. This is true for all persons, whatever their sexual orientation,” United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said.

According to Find Law.com prior to the s Obergefell v. Hodge same ruling sex marriage was legal in 37 states. It was permitted in 26 states by court decision and only voted by popular demand in three states. The other eight states granted it by State Legislature. In 2003 Massachusetts was the first state to allow gay and lesbian couples the right to married. A few years later other northern states including, Connecticut, Delaware, New York and New Jersey followed the trend. Arkansas was the first southern state to approve Same-sex marriage.

“In our society, marriage is not simply a governmental institution; it is a religious institution as well. Today’s decision might change the former, but it cannot change the latter, supreme court justice Clarence Thomas said.”

A Lesbian couple got married on Sweet Heart Circle on June 26. Several lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) supporters came out to see the couple unite as one. 

“The fact that my marriage will be recognized in any state, If i’m in the hospital dying my partner can be there with me and that’s a wonderful thing to know and it’s a wonderful thing to celebrate all around the world today, Josh a wedding attendant said .”