ILLINOIS — On this day ten years ago — June 26, 2015 — the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. The 5-4 decision found that state-level bans on same-sex marriage violated the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The decision marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history, transforming the legal and social landscape for LGBTQ+ Americans and solidifying marriage equality as the law of the land.
As highlighted in the Chicago Tribune, the case arose from multiple lawsuits filed by same-sex couples across four states — all seeking legal recognition and protection for their marriages.
Other Major Events That Happened on June 26
The same date holds historical weight for other reasons as well. Notable events that occurred on June 26 include:
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1917: U.S. troops of the American Expeditionary Force landed in Saint-Nazaire, France, joining World War I.
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1945: United Nations charter was signed by 50 nations in San Francisco, laying the groundwork for the global body.
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1948: The Berlin Airlift began after the Soviet Union cut off land and water access to West Berlin.
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1963: President John F. Kennedy gave his iconic “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in West Berlin, pledging U.S. solidarity.
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1993: President Bill Clinton announced missile strikes on Iraqi targets, citing an assassination plot against former President George H.W. Bush.
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1996: In United States v. Virginia, the Supreme Court ruled that Virginia Military Institute’s male-only policy was unconstitutional.
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1997: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in the series by J.K. Rowling, was published in the U.K.
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2008: The Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that individuals have the right to own firearms under the Second Amendment.
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2013: In United States v. Windsor, the Court struck down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act and reinstated same-sex marriages in California.
Notable Birthdays on June 26
Several celebrities and cultural figures also celebrate their birthdays today, including:
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Ariana Grande, pop singer and actress, turns 32
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Derek Jeter, Baseball Hall of Famer, turns 51
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Aubrey Plaza, actor, turns 41
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Nick Offerman, actor and writer, turns 55
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Shannon Sharpe, football Hall of Famer, turns 57
Where were you when same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015? Share your story with us at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
