The United States Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act on Wednesday, ruling that same-sex couples who are legally married in states where gay marriage is legal must receive the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the 5-4 majority, said the law, which denies legally married gay couples the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples, violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.
“The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity,” Kennedy wrote.
The decision is a major victory for gay rights advocates, who have seen a number of recent victories in the courts. It also comes at a time when public opinion on same-sex marriage is rapidly shifting in favor of gay rights.
The case, United States v. Windsor, was brought by Edith Windsor, a widow who was forced to pay more than $363,000 in federal estate taxes after her wife, Thea Spyer, died in 2009. The two had been married in Canada in 2007.
The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996.
The decision was greeted with celebration by gay rights advocates.
“This is a watershed moment in the history of American civil rights,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
“For the first time, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that the Constitution protects the right of all Americans to marry the person they love, regardless of who they are,” he said.
House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, said he was disappointed in the ruling.
“My heart goes out to anyone who has ever been in love, and especially to those who have had to defend their love in the face of discrimination,” he said.
The ruling is a major victory for President Barack Obama, who has long supported gay marriage.
“Today’s victory is a tribute to Edie Windsor, her courage and her determination to fight for justice,” Obama said in a statement.
“This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts: when all Americans are treated equally, we are all more free,” he said.
The decision is also a major victory for the gay rights movement, which has seen a series of recent victories in the courts. In June, the Supreme Court struck down a part of the Voting Rights Act that required states with a history of discrimination to get approval from the Justice Department before changing their voting laws.
The Windsor case was argued before the Supreme Court in March. In August, the court issued a order blocking same-sex marriages in California while it considered the case.
The case is United States v. Windsor, 12-307.
Contents
- 1 What did the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell vs Hodges in 2015 do?
- 2 What was the outcome of the Obergefell V Hodges case?
- 3 When was the Obergefell V Hodges case?
- 4 What was the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v Windsor?
- 5 Why did Obergefell Sue Hodges?
- 6 What was Hodges argument in Obergefell v. Hodges?
- 7 Why is the Obergefell v. Hodges case so important?
What did the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell vs Hodges in 2015 do?
On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide in the case Obergefell vs Hodges. This ruling overturned bans on same-sex marriage in 13 states. The 5-4 decision was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was joined by the four liberal justices on the Court. The four dissenting justices each wrote their own dissent.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito. Roberts argued that the ruling was a “threat to American democracy” and that the Court had overstepped its bounds. He also argued that the issue of same-sex marriage should be decided by the states, not the federal government.
Justice Scalia wrote a scathing dissent, in which he accused the majority of writing a “lie” in their opinion. He argued that the Constitution does not protect same-sex marriage and that the Court had “cast aside” the will of the people.
Justice Thomas wrote that the ruling was a “threat to religious liberty” and that it would be used to force religious institutions to recognize same-sex marriage.
Justice Alito wrote that the ruling would lead to a “culture war” and that the Court had “made a grave mistake.”
What was the outcome of the Obergefell V Hodges case?
On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in the Obergefell v Hodges case, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The 5-4 decision was a major victory for the LGBT community, and was hailed as a historic step towards equality.
The Obergefell v Hodges case was brought by four same-sex couples who challenged the constitutionality of state bans on same-sex marriage. The plaintiffs argued that the bans violated their right to equal protection and due process under the US Constitution.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the bans were unconstitutional. The majority opinion, written by Justice Kennedy, held that the bans violated the plaintiffs’ right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. Kennedy wrote that marriage is a fundamental right, and that there is no legitimate reason to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.
The Obergefell v Hodges case was a major victory for the LGBT community, and was hailed as a historic step towards equality. The decision overturned state bans on same-sex marriage, and legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
When was the Obergefell V Hodges case?
On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The decision was announced in a historic opinion delivered by Justice Anthony Kennedy.
The Obergefell case was brought by four same-sex couples who had been denied marriage licenses in four different states. The plaintiffs argued that the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution requires states to license marriages between two people of the same sex and to recognize lawful same-sex marriages performed in other states.
The plaintiffs faced an uphill battle, as the Supreme Court had never before ruled on the question of same-sex marriage. In fact, just a few years earlier, in the case of United States v. Windsor, the Court had ruled that the federal government could not deny benefits to same-sex couples who were legally married under state law.
However, the Obergefell case was decided on a much more fundamental level, as it was a challenge to the laws of individual states that barred same-sex marriage.
The Obergefell decision was greeted with joy by LGBT rights advocates and condemned by opponents of same-sex marriage. The decision has been hailed as a victory for equality and a landmark in the struggle for civil rights.
What was the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v Windsor?
On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling in United States v Windsor striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. The majority opinion, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, found that the section of DOMA which defined marriage as between a man and a woman violated the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The Windsor case was brought by Edith Windsor, a lesbian woman who was required to pay over $363,000 in federal estate taxes after her wife, Thea Spyer, died. Windsor argued that she should not have to pay estate taxes since she was not considered a spouse under DOMA.
The majority opinion in Windsor was based on the principle of equal protection under the law. The opinion stated that the purpose of DOMA was to “impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma” on same-sex couples, and that this purpose was unconstitutional. The opinion also stated that the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman was not a rational basis for the law.
Justice Kennedy’s opinion was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito dissented.
The Windsor case was a major victory for the LGBT rights movement and helped to pave the way for the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015.
Why did Obergefell Sue Hodges?
In June of 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. This ruling was the culmination of a years-long legal battle waged by Jim Obergefell, who sued the state of Ohio after his husband, John, passed away.
Obergefell’s case was one of several that made its way to the Supreme Court, but it was the one that ultimately resulted in a nationwide victory for the LGBTQ community. In his lawsuit, Obergefell argued that the state of Ohio was violating his constitutional rights by not recognizing his marriage to John.
The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the 14th Amendment requires states to recognize same-sex marriages. This landmark ruling was a major victory for the LGBTQ community, and it paved the way for nationwide marriage equality.
Jim Obergefell’s fight for marriage equality was a long and difficult one, but it was ultimately successful. His story is a powerful reminder that progress is possible when we fight for what we believe in.
What was Hodges argument in Obergefell v. Hodges?
In Obergefell v. Hodges, the United States Supreme Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, in which he held that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Kennedy based this holding on the idea that marriage is a fundamental right, and that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a form of discrimination on the basis of sex.
Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, joined by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Roberts argued that the Constitution does not require states to license same-sex marriages, and that the Equal Protection Clause does not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from out-of-state.
Why is the Obergefell v. Hodges case so important?
The Obergefell v. Hodges case is one of the most important legal cases in U.S. history. The case centered on the question of whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. This landmark ruling was a major victory for the LGBT rights movement and has had a significant impact on the way that same-sex couples are treated in the United States.
There are a number of reasons why the Obergefell v. Hodges case was so important. First and foremost, the case marked a major victory for the LGBT rights movement. Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, same-sex couples did not have a constitutional right to marry. The Obergefell v. Hodges case changed all that, and now same-sex couples are treated equally under the law. This is a major step forward for the LGBT rights movement, and the Obergefell v. Hodges case is likely to have a long-term impact on the way that same-sex couples are treated in the United States.
Another reason why the Obergefell v. Hodges case was so important is that it affirmed the principle of equal protection under the law. The Constitution guarantees all citizens equal protection under the law, and the Obergefell v. Hodges case upheld this principle. This was a major victory for the LGBT community, which has long been denied equal rights and protection under the law.
The Obergefell v. Hodges case was also significant because it helped to solidify the rights of same-sex couples. Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, same-sex couples did not have the same rights as heterosexual couples. They could not, for example, file joint tax returns, receive survivor benefits, or make medical decisions for one another. The Obergefell v. Hodges case changed all that, and now same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples.
Finally, the Obergefell v. Hodges case was important because it reaffirmed the principle of liberty. The Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to liberty, and the Obergefell v. Hodges case upheld this principle. This was another major victory for the LGBT community, which has long been denied the right to liberty.
The Obergefell v. Hodges case was a major victory for the LGBT rights movement and a major step forward for the cause of equality in the United States. The case was also significant because it affirmed the principle of equal protection under the law, the principle of liberty, and the principle of same-sex couples’ right to marry.