KKOH.COM – The Supreme Court has ruled that LGBT people have the same right to marry as men and women do, according to the Constitution, effectively striking down gay marriage bans in 14 states and ensuring all Americans can enjoy the rights, privileges and protections of marriage, regardless of sexual orientation.

In a 5-4 decision, the highest court in the nation ruled that preventing same-sex people from marrying violated their constitutional right to due process under the 14th Amendment, which states, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Conservative Justice Kennedy was swayed by hundreds of thousands of married same-sex couples and their children who are treated differently when they move to a state that doesn’t recognize their union. “It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage,” Kennedy wrote of same-sex couples. “Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves.”

“They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law,” he continued. “The Constitution grants them that right.”

The United States becomes the 21st country (out of 196) in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in every state and jurisdiction; 36 states already allow gay marriage, and 60% of Americans support it, compared with 37% just 10 years ago.