The case of Lawrence v. Texas emerged from an incident in 1998 when police were called to a Houston apartment after receiving a report of a weapons disturbance. Upon entering the apartment, they found John Lawrence and Tyron Garner engaging in a consensual sexual act. The two men were arrested under Texas's sodomy law, which prohibited sexual conduct 'between persons of the same sex.' They challenged the constitutionality of the law, claiming it violated their rights under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Texas Court of Appeals upheld the law, leading to the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

On June 26, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ruled in favor of Lawrence and Garner. The Court held that state sodomy laws infringe upon the liberty and privacy rights of individuals. This ruling explicitly overturned the earlier precedent set by Bowers v. Hardwick in 1986, which had upheld similar sodomy laws. The justices emphasized that adults have a right to engage in private conduct without government intervention, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.

The implications of the ruling were profound, influencing subsequent legal battles concerning LGBTQ+ rights, including marriage equality. It sent a strong signal that the rights of individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, are protected under the Constitution. Lawrence v. Texas not only decriminalized same-sex intimacy in Texas but also inspired a broader movement toward equality and acceptance across the country.