On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to perform legal same-sex marriages following a landmark state court ruling that it was unconstitutional to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples. This historic moment was a significant victory for the LGBTQ+ community and set the stage for the national legalization of same-sex marriage, which would follow more than a decade later. The event underscored the ongoing progress in the fight for equal rights and recognition under the law.
