06/12/2026
Loving Day is an annual global celebration held on June 12th. It commemorates the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia, which struck down state laws banning in*******al marriage.Why it matters:The Case: Mildred Loving (a Black and Native American woman) and Richard Loving (a white man) were married in 1958 in Washington, D.C. When they returned home to Virginia, they were arrested, convicted, and banished from the state for 25 years under the Racial Integrity Act.The Ruling: After a nine-year legal battle, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in their favor, declaring that the freedom to marry is a fundamental human right that cannot be infringed upon by the state based on race.The Day: This victory effectively legalized in*******al marriage in all 50 states. The annual celebration was started in 2004 by Ken Tanabe to promote visibility, education, and community. www.civilrightsconference.com
Today is Loving Day, which honors the Supreme Court's 1967 decision affirming the right of in*******al couples to marry.
Not all that long ago, in*******al marriage was illegal in many parts of our country. The Loving decision helped move us closer to the promise of equal rights and equal protection under the law.
