Final answer:
In 2004, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, marking a significant victory for gay rights and setting a precedent for LGBTQ+ equality across the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2004, the Massachusetts Supreme Court had a landmark ruling that favored gay rights by deciding that the prohibition of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. As a result, Massachusetts became the first state to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. This was a pivotal moment for the LGBTQ+ community, setting off a chain reaction in other states both for and against same-sex marriage. Despite the significant opposition, including attempts to amend the United States constitution to ban same-sex marriage in 2004 and 2006, the movement for equal marriage rights gained momentum, leading to the seminal Obergefell v. Hodges case in 2015, where the Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, effectively legalizing it nationwide.