Marriage equality history in photos: Images of celebration and hope after Obergefell
06/26/25
trudestress
A historic day for LGBTQ+ Americans
Celebrations of marriage equality ruling, June 26, 2015
Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images; MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images
Ten years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for nationwide marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges. The ruling sparked celebrations around the country.
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Momentum for marriage equality had been building for decades. In the 1990s, it looked as if Hawaii would be the first state with marriage equality, but that didn't happen. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first when a 2003 court ruling went into effect. A few other states followed, and 2013 saw two other milestones from the courts: the fall of the Defense of Marriage Act, which banned federal government recognition of same-sex marriages, and of California's Proposition 8, which had nullified a marriage equality ruling there. State bans on same-sex marriage started being struck down, but then the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld bans in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and plaintiffs in those cases, consolidated as Obergefell for Ohio plaintiff Jim Obergefell, went to the Supreme Court.
“The limitation of marriage to opposite-sex couples may long have seemed natural and just, but its inconsistency with the central meaning of the fundamental right to marry is now manifest,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the 5-4 majority. “With that knowledge must come the recognition that laws excluding same-sex couples from the marriage right impose stigma and injury of the kind prohibited by our basic charter.”
Scroll on for more pictures of celebrations. This photo gallery was assembled by equalpride's digital photo editor, Nikki Aye.
John Becker of Silver Spring, Maryland, waves a rainbow flag in anticipation of a ruling on marriage equality from the Supreme Court June 25, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Supporters of marriage equality rally in front of the Supreme Court awaiting a ruling in Obergefell, on June, 25, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images
People celebrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2015, after its historic decision on marriage equality.
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images
People celebrate during a rally outside the Stonewall Inn in the West Village in New York on June 26, 2015, after the U.S. Supreme Court's historic decision on marriage equality.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images
Marriage equality supporters hold Pride flags next to an altered street sign that reads "Case Closed!' while celebrating the U.S Supreme Court ruling regarding same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015 in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
People celebrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2015 after its historic decision on marriage equality.
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images
Over a thousand people joined in on the celebration on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol for the Supreme Court ruling giving same-sex couples the right to marry nationwide, June 26, 2015.
Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Marge Eide (left), 77, and Ann Sorrell (right), 78, a couple for over 40 years, are married by Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Carol Kuhnke on June 26, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
People celebrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2015, after its historic decision on marriage equality.
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images
Madeleine Troup of Houston wipes tears of joy away after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages nationwide on Friday, June 26, 2015.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images
Gert Crawford, dressed in a wedding dress, joins thousands of marriage equality supporters in West Hollywood celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling on June 26, 2015.
David McNew/Getty Images
A marriage equality supporter holds a Pride flag next to the marquee at the Castro Theatre that reads "Love Wins" while celebrating the U.S Supreme Court ruling on June 26, 2015, in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Activists from the Human Rights Campaign fly "LOVE" balloons in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as they wait for the court's decision to legalize same-sex marriages nationwide on Friday, June 26, 2015.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images
Drew Kiser (center) rallies with crowd in front of the Supreme Court celebrating a ruling for nationwide marriage equality, on June 26, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Plaintiff Jim Obergefell speaks to members of the media after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling for marriage equality, June 26, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Community members celebrate the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality at the event hosted by Texas for Marriage at the Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Austin on June 26, 2015.
Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images
U.S. President Barack Obama gives remarks on the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality in the Rose Garden at the White House June 26, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
People wave a giant equality flag as they celebrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2015, after its historic decision on marriage equality.
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images
Sheila Marino-Thomas (in blue,) 52, hugs a friend during a rally in front of the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 26, 2015, in support of the Supreme Court's landmark decision guaranteeing nationwide same-sex marriage rights.
Yana Paskova/Getty Images
Hundreds gather outside of the Supreme Court on Friday to celebrate the decision to legalize gay marriage in all 50 states, in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2015.
Michael Hernandez/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
People celebrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 26. 2015 after its historic decision on marriage equality.
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images
Janelle Boone (left) holds her head up with joy after obtaining a marriage license with her partner, Christine Wylie, at the Travis County Clerk's office, Austin, Texas, June 26, 2015.
Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images
Activists hold signs in front of the White House lightened in the rainbow colors in Washington on June 26, 2015.
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images
Men kiss near a window display expressing gratitude as people celebrate the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality on June 26, 2015, in West Hollywood.
David McNew/Getty Images
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