Landmark Supreme Court Decision Paves the Way for Marriage Equality in the US and Beyond

Strategic Insights -

On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court delivered a major victory for marriage equality, ruling that the US Constitution grants same-sex couples the right to marry. This decision, which seeks to end the patchwork of marriage laws across the country, is expected to have far-reaching implications for the lives of millions of Americans and to inspire change around the world. "The Supreme Court's decision is a huge victory for same-sex couples in the US that will reverberate in many countries that still deny people the right to marry the person they love," said Boris Dittrich, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, ruled that the US Constitution grants same-sex couples the right to marry, a landmark win for marriage equality in the US.
  • Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the 5 to 4 majority, stated that marriage is a fundamental right that all couples are entitled to under the Fourteenth Amendment of the constitution, which provides for equal protection to all citizens under the law.
  • This decision comes after a series of important court rulings that have expanded the rights of LGBT people in the US, including the 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas and the 2013 decision in United States v. Windsor.
  • Prior to the ruling, 36 US states and the District of Columbia recognized the legal right to same-sex marriage, while 10 other states retained bans on same-sex marriage.
  • The Supreme Court's decision overturns the lower court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, ruling that the bans violated the constitutional right of gays and lesbians to equal protection under the law.
  • Other countries have followed the US leader in establishing policies allowing marriage licenses for same-sex couples, with 12 countries currently recognizing same-sex marriage.
  • The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges had previously upheld state same-sex marriage bans in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Statistics:

  • 36 US states and the District of Columbia recognized the legal right to same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court's decision.
  • 10 US states still retain bans on same-sex marriage.
  • Since 2001, the Netherlands has led the way in recognizing same-sex marriage, while Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay have all established policies allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Sources:

  • Human Rights Watch
  • US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges
  • Lawrence v. Texas
  • United States v. Windsor
  • Dutch Parliament
  • New York City Bar Association
  • The Guardian
  • BBC News
  • The New York Times
  • The Washington Post