Stop Doomscrolling & Start Celebrating Marriage Equality Day!

Published Wednesday, Jun. 4th, 2025

10th anniversary of Obergefell v Hodges: 10 Great ways to celebrate & support marriage equality in 2025 and beyond!

Two women pose happily, kiss on the cheek — (Photo edited: Felipe Balduino / Pexels)

How to Celebrate Marriage Equality Day in 2025: 10 Ways to Honor the 10th Anniversary of Obergefell v Hodges on June 26th

The daily news may be a bit bleak this Pride Month, but that’s all the more reason to take a break from doom scrolling and start celebrating with intention. This year’s Marriage Equality Day, held on June 26th, marks the tenth anniversary of Obergefell v Hodges, the Supreme Court decision that recognized the right of same-sex couples to marry.

It’s the perfect time for connection, collaboration, celebration, and positive action! With that in mind, here are 10 ways to celebrate Marriage Equality Day this year.

(Note: We use LGBTQ+ and LGBTQIA+ interchangeably in this article to help folks find it easily online. Because both versions are popular, they're both common search terms. Everyone's included!)

Two women pose at a pride event making sweet and silly faces

(Photo by Norbu GYACHUNG on Unsplash)

10 Ways to Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Marriage Equality

1. Support LGBTQIA+ Businesses and Creators

Grab brunch at a queer-owned cafe. Visit your local LGBTQ+ bookstore. Stream, download, or purchase merchandise from your favorite queer musicians. Attend a local drag show or queer comedy hour. Show the community your support today by putting your money where your heart is!

You can support your favorite LGBTQ+ businesses and creators without spending money, too: share their profiles on social media, leave a positive review on their Google Business or Yelp profiles, and let people know what makes them so special!

You can donate to American Marriage Ministries here

2. Contact Your Representatives

If you’ve never contacted your local representatives before, today’s a great day to give it a try! Contact your representatives to let them know how you feel about LGBTQ+ rights and any other current events or issues you're moved to speak about. (We don't have an opinion on what you say, we just support your right to say it!)

Reach out by phone, email, or postal mail. You can even use an online template to get started, which can make the process easier and less stressful.

Find out who your federal, state, and local representatives are here: Find and Contact Elected Officials at USA.gov

For tips on how to write your reps : Tips on Writing to Your Elected Officials from the ACLU

3. Honor Those Who Have Passed

Set aside time to honor the memory of LGBTQ+ folks who have passed away. Gather with loved ones and community members to share personal stories and memories, visit a public memorial or landmark, or create your own ritual of remembrance with candle lighting, readings, song, dance, or prayer.

4. Volunteer with an LGBTQ+ Organization

Donate your time, skills, and support to your local LGBTQ+ center, AIDS center, or youth shelter! Host a skills class or arts workshop, contribute to their marketing and outreach efforts, work the phones, clean the grounds, and more. Many community centers list the current openings for volunteer staff on their websites, making it easy to see how you can help, or stop by in person to say hello.

Two genderfluid people smile at the camera

(Photo: Scott Griessel / iStock)

5. Plan a Vow Renewal Ceremony

Renew your vows in celebration of the ten-year anniversary of Obergefell v Hodges, the landmark SCOTUS case that recognized the right for same-sex couples to marry! Whether you’re a same-sex couple or enthusiastic allies, this is a wonderful day to celebrate love and family.

Vow Renewal ceremonies can be formal or casual, big or small, and any tone you like – just like weddings. Ask a friend or relative to officiate your vow renewal, exchange new vows, and celebrate the next chapter in your lives! Click the links below to get started:

6. Get Married!

If you're already engaged and have been searching for a lucky wedding date, Marriage Equality Day might be it!

Dozens of same-sex couples get married every year on the anniversary of Obergefell v Hodges – in courthouse weddings, private backyard weddings, destination weddings, church weddings, and everything in between.

Ask a friend or family member to get ordained online to officiate your wedding, choose a sample wedding script for them to use from our online script library, and start writing your wedding vows. It’s a great day to celebrate your love and commitment!

|* custom-button, "https://theamm.org/get-ordained-online", "FREE ONLINE ORDINATION PAGE" *|

Two people hold up their hands to show their wedding rings, dressed in elegant attire

Get married or renew your vows to celebrate Marriage Equality Day! (Photo: artiemedvedev / iStock)

7. Learn About the History of Marriage Equality and the LGBTQIA+ Community

History is never far away – after all, marriage equality was only legalized ten years ago. That makes Marriage Equality Day a great time to learn more about LGBTQIA+ history. You can: read articles and essays online; visit your local library to check out books, audio books, or graphic novels about the queer experience; stream a documentary; or ask to ‘interview’ a beloved LGBTQ+ elder in your neighborhood over coffee or drinks to get to know them better.

8. Donate to LGBTQ+ and Human Rights Organizations

Consider donating money to an organization that aligns with your values, and that helps protect LGBTQ+ rights, human rights, and civil rights. There are many reputable organizations to choose from, and any donation value helps make a difference – no matter how small!

9. Host an LGBTQ+ Reading Club, Bar crawl, Movie night, and More

Take time to celebrate with the people in your community! Depending on your personal tastes and time constraints, you might:

Host an LGBTQ+ book club during Pride Month
Plan a bar crawl to all your favorite LGBTQ+ friendly bars and clubs
Host a movie night featuring LGBTQ+ films
Organize a group drag brunch date
Trade comics or books featuring LGBTQ+ characters
Start a group playlist with all your favorite LGBTQ+ musical artists

10. Get Ordained Online with American Marriage Ministries to Officiate LGBTQ+ Weddings

Getting ordained online to officiate LGBTQ+ weddings is one of the simplest ways to show your support for the community – and it’s free with American Marriage Ministries. You can get ordained in just a few seconds by clicking the link below.

Once you’re ordained with AMM, you’re on your way to performing marriage ceremonies for your LGBTQ+ friends and family – and anyone else who wants to celebrate their love with a wedding!

|* ordination-button *|

How do you want to celebrate Marriage Equality Day and Pride Month this year?

Whether you choose to collaborate, celebrate, or take a stand this month (or all of the above), remember that you’re not alone! And honoring the holiday can be as simple as expressing your identity or allyship in your daily life: wear a pin or t-shirt, add a charm to your purse or bag, attend an LGBTQ+ event in festive attire, or share your story on social media. Tell someone about how you met your partner and fell in love, and what marriage equality means to you!

Let people know you’re a part of the community, a proud ally, or a safe person to connect with or come out to. Happy Pride Month!

Two men kiss and hold out their wedding rings