Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The case consolidated several challenges to state bans on same-sex marriage, brought by couples who argued that the state restrictions violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses. The petitioners, including James Obergefell, sued their states after being denied marriage licenses or recognition of their marriages, arguing that the refusal to recognize same-sex marriages violated their fundamental rights and dignity.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing the majority opinion, held that marriage is a fundamental right, and that the state’s refusal to allow same-sex couples to marry violated their equal protection rights and deprived them of liberty without due process of law. The Court’s ruling extended marriage equality across the United States, affirming that same-sex couples have the same legal rights as opposite-sex couples to marry and have their marriages recognized by the state. Obergefell v. Hodges was a historic victory for LGBTQ+ rights, marking a significant milestone in the fight for equality.