Title: The Journey to Marriage Equality in the United States - HRC
Headings: The Journey to Marriage Equality in the United States
The Journey to Marriage Equality in the United States
A Growing Call for Equality
New Century & New Beginnings
Rising Support Signals Hope
A Turning Point for Change
Marriage Equality Becomes a Reality
HRC’s Work Changing Hearts & Minds
Decades of Championing Equality
Working from Coast to Coast
Building Coalitions
Our Red Logo for Equality
Creating a Digital Wave
Celebrating Our Victory
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Content: The Journey to Marriage Equality in the United States - HRC
The Journey to Marriage Equality in the United States
The Journey to Marriage Equality in the United States
The road to nationwide marriage equality was a long one, spanning decades of United States history and culminating in victory in June 2015. Throughout the long fight for marriage equality, HRC was at the forefront. Volunteer with HRC
From gathering supporters in small towns across the country to rallying in front of the Supreme Court of the United States, we gave our all to ensure every person, regardless of whom they love, is recognized equally under the law. A Growing Call for Equality
Efforts to legalize same-sex marriage began to pop up across the country in the 1990s, and with it challenges on the state and national levels. Civil unions for same-sex couples existed in many states but created a separate but equal standard. At the federal level, couples were denied access to more than 1,100 federal rights and responsibilities associated with the institution, as well as those denied by their given state. The Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law in 1996 and defined marriage by the federal government as between a man and woman, thereby allowing states to deny marriage equality. New Century & New Beginnings
As the Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas struck down sodomy laws in 2003, another victory was celebrated as Massachussetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage via a court ruling. On the federal level, however, efforts continued to prevent equality from becoming a reality. President Bush announced his opposition to same-sex marriage while the House introduced a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.