US Supreme Court rules gay marriage is finally legal nationwide

The US Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal around across the United States.

In a historic decision, passed by five votes to four, the court ruled that marriage is constitutional for all, bypassing individual state laws.

Gay couples could only marry in 37 states in addition to Washington DC before the judgement.

‘No union is more profound than marriage,’ wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy in the majority opinion.
The decision is the culmination of decades of litigation and activism and came against the backdrop of fast-changing attitudes towards same-sex marriage, with recent polls suggesting the majority of Americans support same-sex partnerships.

The White House changed their Twitter and Facebook pictures to a White House with rainbow colouring.

President Obama tweeted: ‘Today is a big step in our march toward equality.
‘Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else.
‘#LoveWins’

The BBC reports that cheers erupted outside the Supreme Court after the ruling was announced. Dozens of people have camped outside the building for hours in anticipation of the news.