--- description: "No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family" title: Read the 7 Most Memorable Passages in the Gay Marriage Decision image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6b38ea1f8e2c3ff7/698858913c1639155945894b/gay-marriage2.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Supreme Court](/tag/supreme-court/) ## Supreme Court Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Read the 7 Most Memorable Passages in the Gay Marriage Decision ## Video: Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Same-Sex Marriage [Watch (HLS stream): Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Same-Sex Marriage](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Nk2XaZ1m.m3u8) (1:25)  _Published 2015-06-26. The Supreme Court delivered a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, saying it is a constitutional right and opening the door for marriage nationally._ by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 26, 2015 3:07 PM CUT  Same-sex marriage supporters rejoice after the U.S Supreme Court hands down a ruling regarding same-sex marriage June 26, 2015 outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Same-sex marriage supporters rejoice after the U.S Supreme Court hands down a ruling regarding same-sex marriage June 26, 2015 outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.Alex Wong—Getty Images by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 26, 2015 3:07 PM CUT Supreme Court rulings are typically dry legalistic documents, but Friday’s [decision recognizing gay marriage nationwide](http://time.com/3937244/supreme-court-gay-marriage-decision/ "undefined") was more lyrical than most. Here are some of the most memorable passages from the majority opinion authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy. **He begins by describing the importance of** **marriage** --- > “” --- **He tells the love story of the main plaintiff** --- > “” --- **He gives a short but powerful description of why people marry** --- > “” --- **He argues that barring same-sex marriage harms couples** --- > “” --- **He explains how a ruling would affect all of the plaintiffs** --- > “” --- **He concludes by again explaining the importance of marriage** --- > “” --- **And he reverses the lower-court decision, recognizing gay marriage across the nation** --- > “” --- ### See Scenes of Celebration After Supreme Court Gay Marriage Ruling  Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrate outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2015. Jacquelyn Martin—AP  Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrate outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2015. Mladen Antonov—AFP/Getty Images  Gay rights supporters celebrate after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution provides same-sex couples the right to marry, outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, June 26, 2015. Jim Bourg—Reuters  Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrate outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2015. Jim Lo Scalzo—EPA  John Becker, right, hugs his friend and fellow LGBT advocate Paul Guequierre, outside the Supreme Court in Washington on June 26, 2015. Jacquelyn Martin—AP  Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrate outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2015. Jim Bourg—Reuters  Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrate outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2015. Mladen Antonov—AFP/Getty Images  Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrate outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, on June 26, 2015. Manuel Balce Ceneta—AP Gay Marriage US Supreme Court Ruling: 7 Memorable Passages ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3937570/supreme-court-gay-marriage-memorable/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3937570/supreme-court-gay-marriage-memorable/"},"headline":"Read the 7 Most Memorable Passages in the Gay Marriage Decision","datePublished":"2015-06-26T15:07:12.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:02:47.081Z","description":"\"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family\"","url":"https://time.com/3937570/supreme-court-gay-marriage-memorable/","keywords":["Supreme Court","Gay Marriage"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6b38ea1f8e2c3ff7/698858913c1639155945894b/gay-marriage2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ryan Teague Beckwith","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6b38ea1f8e2c3ff7/698858913c1639155945894b/gay-marriage2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Gay Marriage US Supreme Court Ruling","caption":"Gay Marriage US Supreme Court Ruling","creditText":"Alex Wong—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/supreme-court/","name":"Supreme Court"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3937570/supreme-court-gay-marriage-memorable/","name":"Read the 7 Most Memorable Passages in the Gay Marriage Decision"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Same-Sex Marriage","description":"The Supreme Court delivered a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, saying it is a constitutional right and opening the door for marriage nationally.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Nk2XaZ1m/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-06-26T14:43:09.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Nk2XaZ1m.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3937570/supreme-court-gay-marriage-memorable/","duration":"PT1M25S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3937570/supreme-court-gay-marriage-memorable/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```