The United States on Monday celebrates
the second anniversary of Obergefell vs. Hodges.
Decided on June 26, 2015, the Supreme
Court's Obergefell ruling found that gay and lesbian couples
have a constitutional right to marry.
In one sweeping motion, the 5-4
decision struck down state bans that excluded gay couples from
marriage.
Conservatives criticized the ruling,
with many politicians vowing to undermine such unions. In
Mississippi, for example, lawmakers approved a law that protects
opponents of marriage equality. President Donald Trump has said that
he would sign a similar bill introduced by Republicans.
(Related: Appeals
court lifts hold on Mississippi's HB1523, dubbed nation's worst
anti-LGBT law.)
According to a recent Gallup survey,
roughly 10 percent of LGBT Americans are married to a spouse of the
same sex. Older adults are also more likely to marry than younger
adults.
(Related: Poll:
More than 10% of American LGBT adults married to same-sex spouse.)
Doug Warner and Truman Smith married
last year, nearly 15 years to the day after they met while
vacationing in Greece. A quote from the case written by Justice
Anthony Kennedy was included in the back of their wedding program.
“Rising from the most basic human needs, marriage is essential to
our most profound hopes and aspirations.”