In the United States, the 2016 presidential election cycle began to take shape during 2015. In June, Donald Trump descended the golden escalator at Trump Tower and announced his candidacy, a moment that seemed almost comical at the time but would soon transform American politics. His blunt rhetoric on immigration and trade struck a chord with millions. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, launched her second bid for the presidency, while a little-known Vermont senator named Bernie Sanders drew massive crowds with his progressive message. The year also saw a landmark Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (June 2015), which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, a victory celebrated by LGBTQ+ advocates as a long-overdue recognition of equality.
Public health and social issues Ebola, which dominated headlines in 2014, receded but prompted reforms in global health readiness and response. The Zika virus emerged late in the year as a growing concern in the Americas, linked to birth defects and triggering public health alerts. Social movements also made headlines: movements for racial justice and police accountability continued in the United States, while same‑sex marriage was legalized nationwide in the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015, a major milestone for LGBT rights. In the United States, the 2016 presidential election
Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, released Beauty Behind the Madness . With "Can’t Feel My Face," a song produced by Max Martin, the underground R&B sad boy became a pop god. 2015 was the year that "alternative R&B" became just "pop music." On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, the former
Science and environmental research took massive leaps forward in 2015, fundamentally changing our understanding of both our own health and outer space. 1. Public Health and the Global Obesity Epidemic Public health and social issues Ebola, which dominated
On June 26, the US Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges , legalizing same-sex marriage across all 50 states and marking a monumental victory for civil rights.
In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Obergefell v. Hodges that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples.