In what may be called the most pressing civil rights issue of modern times, the US Supreme Court has delivered a historic verdict for gay rights activists, ruling 5 to 4, that it is legal for all Americans nationwide to marry the people they love, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, or whichever US state they may live in.
The majority of Justices held that the right for same-sex couples to marry is protected under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, citing the clauses that guarantee equal protection and due process. All states are now required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize same-sex unions that were legally performed in other states.
The combined cases decided by this ruling are known as Obergefell v. Hodges.
