Freedom to Marry (and Other Marriage Equality Organizations)

[Page 418]Marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to a person, a legal gateway to a crucial safety net of tangible and intangible protections and responsibilities, and a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. In 2014, a majority of Americans (63%) believed that it was time to end marriage discrimination nationwide. And, in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to prevent same-sex couples from marrying, thus affirming the freedom to marry and equal protection under the law for all Americans. The current entry reviews the birth of the modern-day marriage movement and landmark victories for the freedom to marry in the United States, and the challenges that remain for the same freedom to be implemented in all states nationwide.