In a landmark decision, a divided Supreme Court of US ruled Friday that states cannot ban same-sex marriage, establishing a new civil right and handing gay rights advocates a victory that until very recently would have seemed unthinkable.
In a 5-4 ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority with the four liberal justices. Each of the four conservative justices wrote their own dissent.
It also means the 14 states which had banned same-sex marriage will no longer be able to enforce them.
President Barack Obama said the ruling was a “victory for America”.
“When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free ” he said.