In a moment that would have been unimaginable 50 years ago—when a handful of protestors demonstrated for gay rights in front of Independence Hall—the Supreme Court ruled on the legality of marriage between same-sex couples on June 26, 2015.
History Is Happening Now
“LGBT people are not asking for anything out of the ordinary. We're just asking for the same rights that everyone else has.”
—singer Ricky Martin quotes on the website of UN Free & Equal, a United National Campaign for LGBT equality
Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015
Ohio residents Jim Obergefell and his partner of two decades John Arthur wished to marry knowing that John was terminally ill with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ohio, however, had passed a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Married on Sunday, Fired on Monday
Even with a ruling in favor of same sex marriage, there are still states where same-sex couples can be fired or evicted for marrying. The debate over LGBT rights is far from over.
“Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizen of this country.”
—out actor and producer Zachary Quinto, in response to the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer, a bisexual teen and YouTuber known for speaking out against homophobic bullying, 2011