NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Supreme Court 10 years ago voted to extend the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, a landmark 5-4 ruling that changed the course of U.S. history — touching off profound changes in public opinion, as well as seismic cultural shifts.
“No longer may this liberty be denied,” Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority. “The court now holds that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.”
The June 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges ensured same-sex couples were guaranteed the same protections and benefits as their heterosexual peers.
However, the ruling is not without its detractors. In fact, 10 years after the high court’s decision, recent polling shows that public opinion on same-sex marriage is more divided than ever.
GORSUCH, ROBERTS SIDE WITH LEFT-LEANING SUPREME COURT JUSTICES IN IMMIGRATION RULING
Plaintiffs in the Obergefell v. Hodges case are seen outside the Supreme Court in 2015. Ten years later, in 2025, there is still widespread public support for the Supreme Court ruling. (Ken Cedeno/ Corbis via Getty Images)
The 10-year anniversary of Obergefell also comes at a tense political moment. The White House and Congress are governed, as of January 2025, by a new conservative majority — sidelining progressives and emboldening at least some Republican lawmakers who have signaled interest in challenging the Supreme Court’s landmark decision.
It also comes as the conservative-majority Supreme Court has taken up important cases involving LGBTQ+ eduction, gender-related care and more.
Ten years after the court’s landmark decision, here is a look at where things stand.
Public opinion
The nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage has made such unions more visible, increasing the number of Americans with personal connections to couples directly affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling.
In fact, the number of married, same-sex couples in the U.S. has…
