This nation is evolving at a rapid speed.

Same-sex couples were granted the right to marry in all 50 states this past Friday. After years of fighting, the Supreme court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the constitution guarantees that right.

“The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy, and spirituality. This is true for all persons, whatever their sexual orientation,” Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said.

The first state to legalize gay marriage was Rhode Island in 2004, and after more than a decade, couples of the same sex are able to marry wherever they are.

I think this is very much a positive thing to happen to America, and I can say that I was very proud to be a citizen that day. I am positive that this is the beginning of the turn of a more accepting and empathetic country for its people. My aunt had to travel to Vermont when she got married in 2005 and only told immediate family because of fear of disapproval. I have many gay friends, too, that were very ecstatic with the decision.

“National marriage equality is about more than being able to marry in any state. It's about the fact that my country finally sees my love as valid in the eyes of the law and is taking a stand to protect that,” stated Bailey Horton, 18, of Monroe, Connecticut.

Many influential people have spoken out about this including president Barack Obama. Major companies are supportive too — Ben & Jerry’s is renaming one of their ice cream flavors in honor of this event, Snapchat created a geotag with an equality symbol and several brands have rainbow-fied their logos.

“I think it's wonderful and such a monumental advance. However there are other big LGBT issues at hand," Noah Kreski, 20, of Monroe, Connecticut said."Youth homelessness, HIV care, trans rights and discrimination."

This win was a historical leap in moving forward towards the future. "We are so excited to finally we able to say that when we are ready for marriage there is no state that won't recognize the commitment we've made to each other," Bianca Waffenschmidt, 21, of Blauvelt, New York and Morgan Hughes, 20, of Dix Hills, New York said. "In the end we're just a couple like any other, and we are so happy that it's being recognized that way."