White House Lit Up With Rainbow Colors in 2015

The White House is lit with the colors of the rainbow in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling.

White House Photo / Chuck Kennedy

Rainbow colors lit up the White House on the evening of June 26, 2015, in celebration of the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision. The decision, which was announced that same day, legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The Obergefell case overturned the 1971 Baker v. Nelson decision which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. 

For much of the history of the United States, same-sex marriage has been outlawed. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same sex marriage, setting off a decades long civil rights struggle to achieve full marriage equality in the United States. The Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case stemmed from the marriage of James Obergefell and longtime partner John Arthur in Maryland. Ohio, where they lived, prohibited same-sex marriage, and did not recognize their union. The case ultimately reached Supreme Court where the justices agreed in a 5-4 majority decision that same-sex marriages are recognized and protected under the Fourteenth Amendment throughout the United States.  

President Obama gave a speech that morning about the historic decision:  

“This ruling is a victory for Jim Obergefell and the other plaintiffs in the case... This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts: When all Americans are treated as equal we are all more free.” 

Aditi Hardikar and Jeff Tiller, two White House staffers, first came up with the idea to light up the White House with rainbow colors. As dusk settled on June 26, shortly after 7 pm, the lights were turned on and crowds immediately started to gather in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. People rejoiced and celebrated into the night. A chorus sang “America the Beautiful.” Folks gathered with signs that read “love is love,” and many happy tears were shed by onlookers on the north side of the White House. One lawyer present even called her partner on FaceTime to ask them to marry her.  

On December 13, 2022, the White House was lit up in rainbow colors again, this time the south portico to celebrate the Respect for Marriage Act being signed into law by President Biden. The law further protects same-sex and interracial marriages in the event of Obergefell v. Hodges being overturned.  

Reflection Question
Look at the photos on your device. Who appears most often? How are you working to make sure that everyone is treated equally?