Impact of Equal Protection Clause on Same-Sex Marriage Rights

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment has served as a vital component in the legal framework regarding civil rights in the United States.

This clause mandates that individuals in similar situations be treated equally under the law, and it has been the basis for numerous landmark Supreme Court rulings addressing discrimination.

Which of the following Supreme Court cases most directly redefined the interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause in a way that expanded protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation?