In a momentous decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is constitutional for the U.S. as a whole, making it now legal around the country for same-sex couples to get married.
The ruling, however, is not just cause for same-sex couples to celebrate, but rather for everyone to celebrate a step forward for equality. Even giant tech companies are getting in on the fun.
The first and one of the largest companies to lend its support to the decision was Google, writing, "YouTube and Google are proud to celebrate marriage equality," on its home page, along with the hashtag #ProudtoLove. Not only that, but search words like "gay," "lesbian," "bisexual" or "transgender," and you will be presented with a chain of rainbow silhouettes holding hands at the top of the screen, along with a rainbow heart.
YouTube, owned by Google, also posted an emotional video of coming-out statements, along with celebratory LGBT weddings.
The hastag #LoveWins became the top trending topic on Twitter, with over 3.12 million tweets with the hashtag being posted by noon, with these tweets being joined automatically by a rainbow heart next to the hashtag.
Any Facebook users would be aware of the support that Facebook showed for the decision, offering a tool for users to put rainbow stripes over the top of their profile picture. Not only that, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg also posted a map showing the growth of LGBT groups on Facebook in each state from 2008 to the present. Facebook also released a short video about a young man called Justin Kamimoto, who started an LGBTQ Facebook group in the conservative California Central Valley.
"Our country was founded on the promise that all people are created equal, and today we took another step towards achieving that promise," said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg following the decision. "I'm so happy for all my friends and everyone in our community who can finally celebrate their love and be recognized as equal couples under the law."
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has publicly confirmed that he is gay, tweeted that, "Today marks a victory for equality, perseverance and love," following that up with a quote by the late Steve Jobs, saying that, "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."
Apple is also featuring an LGBT Pride section in its App Store, featuring the film Milk and the TV show Orange Is The New Black, both of which heavily feature LBGT characters.
