In 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violated the Massachusetts Constitution's guarantees of equality and liberty. Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage. On May 17, 2004, the first legal same-sex marriages were performed in Massachusetts. This historic moment represented a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights advocates and marked a major milestone in the fight for marriage equality. On May 17, 2004, Lynn City Hall began issuing same sex marriage licenses. Marriage has provided LGBTQ+ couples with legal recognition and protections that were previously unavailable to them, such as access to spousal benefits, healthcare decision-making rights, and inheritance rights. For some, marriage represents a significant step towards societal acceptance and validation of their relationships and identities. Some LGBTQ+ individuals may have reservations about the institution of marriage itself, viewing it as inherently heteronormative or patriarchal. They may question the societal pressure to conform to traditional relationship structures and prioritize other forms of relationship recognition and support within the LGBTQ+ community.