In 2015, the United States Supreme court ruled that bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional, therefore legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. The first official appeal for a gay marriage license was in 1970, just one year after the Stonewall riots. During this appeals case of Baker v. Nelson, the Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal, which blocked similar cases going to the Supreme Court until 2007. While there were states legalizing gay marriage within the state starting in 2004, these civil unions were not recognized by the United States government. In 2013, the Obergefell v. Hodges case started the wave of legalization, but same-sex marriage was not fully legalized until 2015.

The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857 changed the status of divorce from a religious to civil jurisdiction. Because of that movement, progress was able to be made in the rights of married women and their ability to be divorced. Obergefell v. Hodges moved same-sex marriage from the state jurisdiction to the national jurisdiction. Because of this move, gay marriage was legalized and the LGBTQ+ rights movement was able to receive national validation and support. While the Matimonial Causes Act was all about divorce, the Obergefell v. Hodges was all about marriage. Despite their difference however, the two cases paved the way for the rights of millions. 

Source: https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/gay-marriage

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