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Before the ruling, 36 states and the District of Columbia recognized same-sex marriage in some form. But with the historic 5-4 vote, the highest court in the nation ruled that same-sex marriage should be recognized under federal law.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/gay-marriage-celebration-gty-jt-200626_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
\"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family,\" the Obergefell v. Hodges decision said. \"In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were... It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.\"
\"Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization's oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.\"
Following the decision, celebrations across the United States erupted, with phrases like \"love is love\" and \"love prevailed\" marking the moment. Crowds gathered in front of the Supreme Court and in front of the Stonewall Inn -- the site where riots began in 1969 and which became a landmark in the LGBTQ movement.
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As time progressed, support for same-sex marriage increased throughout the United States, and policies and laws began to change. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex marriage. Then, seven years later, the Defense Department ended its policy of \"Don't Ask, Don't Tell,\" allowing gay and bisexual soldiers to openly serve in the military. Finally, in 2015, the landmark Supreme Court decision was delivered.
From the Rose Garden at the White House that day, former president Barack Obama gave remarks.
\"Today, we can say, in no uncertain terms, that we have made our union a little more perfect,\" Obama said.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/AP_year_in_Review_05_mm_151217_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Leaders continue to recognize the importance of the decision five years later.
Obama, referring to Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, wrote on Twitter Friday that \"Jim’s courage and persistence helped change America for the better. And so did every American who marched, organized, stood up, came out—or changed their own heart because they love someone who did. Happy anniversary, everybody.\"
Jim’s courage and persistence helped change America for the better. And so did every American who marched, organized, stood up, came out—or changed their own heart because they love someone who did. Happy anniversary, everybody. https://t.co/t8ULh2c0P5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 26, 2020
\"Five years after the Supreme Court declared that marriage is a right of all people, regardless of who you are or whom you love, the love and commitment of countless LGBTQ couples & families enriches our communities and our country. #LoveIsLove\" wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a tweet Friday.
Five years after the Supreme Court declared that marriage is a right of all people, regardless of who you are or whom you love, the love and commitment of countless LGBTQ couples & families enriches our communities and our country. #LoveIsLove https://t.co/K7RP4tWCGm pic.twitter.com/0gNB1lC8oM
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 26, 2020
Former vice president and presidential candidate Joe Biden took to Instagram. \"Five years ago today, marriage equality became the law of the land — and our nation moved one step closer to our founding promise of liberty, justice, and equality for all. We’ve never fully lived up to that promise, but we’ve never stopped trying. Each new generation carries on the work to push us closer to those highest ideals. It’s never a rout. It’s always a fight. But eventually, the American ideal will win out.\"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Joe Biden (@joebiden) on Jun 26, 2020 at 11:38am PDT
\"Five years ago today, the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges made marriage equality the law of the land. As we celebrate, we recommit to our fight for LGBTQ rights, standing on the shoulders of the advocates who got us this far. Let’s keep going\" New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote on Twitter.
Five years ago today, the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges made marriage equality the law of the land.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) June 26, 2020
As we celebrate, we recommit to our fight for LGBTQ rights, standing on the shoulders of the advocates who got us this far.
Let’s keep going.
Fred Karger, the first openly gay major-party presidential candidate who ran for the Republican nomination in the 2012 presidential election, called plaintiff Jim Obergefell a \"hero\" on Twitter.
Incredible to watch #LGBTQ hero & plantiff @JimObergefell on 5th anniversary of historic #SCOTUS #MarriageEquality decision being interviewed by the amazing @toddsears head of @OutLeadership on @zoom_us #PrideMonth2020 🌈 pic.twitter.com/RFiJxku7Xz
— Fred Karger (@fredkarger) June 23, 2020
Billie Jean King, pro-tennis player turned activist, is now considered to be a feminist and lesbian icon. She noted the day by saying on Twitter, \"love always wins!\"
What a day it was, five years ago today!
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 26, 2020
Same-sex marriage became the law of the land in the United States thanks to a ruling by SCOTUS.
Love always wins! 🏳️🌈#EqualityForAll https://t.co/gtvUb3PeoJ
Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., in addition to recognizing the five-year anniversary, tweeted, \"we honor the decades of activism that laid the groundwork for the Court’s marriage equality ruling - and we recommit ourselves to fighting for dignity and equality for all.\"
Five years ago today, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that LGBTQ people across America have the right to marry who they love.
— Richard Neal (@NealForCongress) June 26, 2020
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/gay-marriage-supreme-court-gty-jt-200626_hpEmbed_13x9_384.jpg\")
The Majority Whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, James Clyburn, D- S.C., wrote on Twitter, \"we continue to fight for equal protections for the LGBTQ+ community.\"
As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Obergefell decision today, which made marriage equality the law of the land, we continue to fight for equal protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
— James E. Clyburn (@WhipClyburn) June 26, 2020
No one should be discriminated against simply for who they love.
Nearly five years after granting gay and lesbians the right to marry, the Supreme Court expanded LGBTQ rights once again this year, on June 15. In a 6-3 vote, the court ruled that employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited under federal civil rights law.
ABC News' Devin Dwyer and Kiara Brantley-Jones contributed to this report.
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