What landmark decision legalized same-sex marriage in the U.S.?

The landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage in the United States is recognized as Obergefell v. Hodges. Decided by the Supreme Court in June 2015, this case consolidated several legal challenges to state bans on same-sex marriage. The Court held that the right to marry is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution, and that denying same-sex couples this right violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantees of equal protection and due process.

In its ruling, the Court emphasized the dignity and respect that comes with marriage and highlighted the historical context of marriage as a fundamental social institution. This decision marked a significant moment in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, establishing that same-sex marriage must be recognized and permitted across all states, thereby reinforcing the principle that the law should treat all individuals equally.

The other cases listed have historical significance but relate to different issues. Roe v. Wade addressed a woman's right to choose regarding abortion, Loving v. Virginia dealt with interracial marriage, and Brown v. Board of Education focused on racial segregation in public schools. Each of these decisions tackled critical civil rights issues, but none pertained to the legalization of same-sex marriage, which is solely represented by Obergefell v. Hodges.