CRI听力:Same-sex Marriage Legal in All 50 States across US

Hundreds gathered in front of the Supreme Court in downtown Washington D.C. to celebrate the court's landmark legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 US states.

The justices split along the usual ideological lines in a 5-4 ruling which holds that states cannot deny same-sex couples the marriage rights by opposite-sex couples.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, the swing vote on the court who sided with its liberal wing in this decision, said in his 28-page ruling that same sex couples ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law, adding that the constitution grants them that right.

President Barack Obama called the historic decision as a big step in America's march toward full equality.

"In doing so, they've reaffirmed that all Americans are entitled to the equal protection from the law, that our people should be treated equally regardless of who they are or who they are."

A total of 36 states permitted same-sex couples to get married before this ruling, covering roughly 70 percent of the US population. Today's ruling means the bans must end in the other 14 states. It is in 2003, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage and the controversy finally comes to a legal end after more than two decades.

Speaking from the White House Rose Garden, Obama said that social progress sometimes is sometimes slow but that change is always possible.

"Today should also give us hope that on the many issues which we regretful, often painful, real change is possible. Shifts in hearts and minds is possible."

Hundreds of supporters crowded at the Supreme Court waving the rainbow flag which represents the LGBT community. People were seen getting very emotional, cheering bursting into tears.

One of the plaintiff's in the case, Jim Obergefell, got a call from the President who thanked him for his leadership that caused this monumental change for the country.

Speaking to the crowds outside the Supreme Court, the plaintiff says this ruling "affirms that millions of people across the country already know to be true in our hearts: our love is equal."

For CRI, I'm He Fei reporting from Washington.