Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in a 5-to-4 decision in favor of nationwide right to same-sex marriage.

After the Supreme Court ruling the states cannot keep same-sex couples from marrying and must recognize unions that were performed in other states. 

Justice Anthony Kennedy delivered the majority opinion, with support of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor. 

The majority concluded that the right for same-sex couples to marry is protected under the 14th Amendment, citing the clauses that guarantee equal protection and due process.

Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia already recognized marriage equality. The remaining 13 states ban these unions.

The court decision opens up gay marriage in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Nebraska.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. in a dissent joined Justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.