The U.S. Supreme Court struck down same-sex marriage bans nationwide in a sweeping decision handed down Friday. In heartfelt, plain language, a five-justice majority described what the law does not often directly adress—the value of intimate, lasting relationships, and their value in society, regardless of sex or sexual orientation. Here are some key excerpts of what the justices wrote. Why marriage is important: “The right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals,” the court wrote.