U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Overturn Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

Ten years after the U.S. Supreme Court secured nationwide marriage rights for same-sex couples, the fight over those rights is once again knocking at the court’s door, and this time, the implications could be far-reaching. Former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, infamous for refusing to issue marriage licenses to a gay couple in 2015, has formally petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Davis, who spent six days in jail for her refusal, is appealing a jury verdict ordering her to pay more than $360,000 in damages and legal fees. Her attorneys argue that the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom shields her from liability, and they call Obergefell “egregiously wrong,” urging the justices to “correct the mistake.” Lower courts have consistently rejected these claims, but Davis remains one of the few individuals with legal standing to challenge the precedent.

The petition lands in a political climate where LGBTQ+ rights are under renewed attack. In 2025 alone, at least nine states have introduced bills or passed resolutions aimed at blocking marriage rights for same-sex couples. The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, recently named overturning Obergefell a top priority. For many in our community, these developments feel especially alarming given the current presidential administration’s track record of targeting LGBTQ+ protections.

To understand what’s at stake, it’s worth remembering why Obergefell v. Hodges was such a pivotal ruling. Before the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2015, marriage equality was legal in just eight states. The ruling didn’t just grant legal recognition, it affirmed that same-sex couples are entitled to the same dignity, rights, and protections as any other couple under the 14th Amendment. Overturning it could allow individual states to reinstate bans, stripping away rights for millions.

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider Davis’s petition this fall. If they agree to hear it, arguments could take place next spring, with a decision expected by June 2026. While most legal experts view her chances as slim, the fact that this request is even before the justices is a sobering reminder: marriage equality was hard-won, and it remains under threat. We’ll be watching closely, and we encourage our community to do the same.

---

Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Image via Getty Images. Photo by Kathryn Maloney