What U.S. Supreme Court decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015?

The decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015 was Obergefell v. Hodges. In this landmark case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry, thus affirming that state laws prohibiting same-sex marriage are unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses.

This case built upon prior decisions that addressed issues of same-sex relationships and marriage rights, such as United States v. Windsor, which struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) but did not fully legalize same-sex marriage. While Lawrence v. Texas decriminalized homosexual sodomy, it did not pertain directly to marital rights. The mention of California v. Hodges is somewhat misleading, as there is no case by that name; however, a similar case could refer to Hollingsworth v. Perry, which pertains to same-sex marriage in California.

Obergefell v. Hodges is significant not only because it established marriage equality across the nation but also because it underscored the evolving interpretation of civil rights in the context of the Constitution. The Court's ruling highlighted the importance of dignity and respect for individual identity and relationships, aligning with broader societal