U.S. Supreme Court to Consider Case That Could Impact Same-Sex Marriage Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will decide whether to hear a case that could challenge nationwide protections for same-sex marriage.
On November 7, the justices will meet to consider the appeal of Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to LGBTQ+ couples on religious grounds after the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the United States.
Davis became internationally known for defying a federal court order and has spent nearly a decade fighting the legal consequences. After losing in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals—which ruled her actions unconstitutional—she petitioned the Supreme Court in July, arguing that she acted as a private citizen, not as a state official.
The appellate court concluded that Davis violated the Constitution by denying licenses to same-sex couples while performing her public duties.
If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it could redefine how far religious freedom extends for public officials when enforcing equality laws. Legal experts say it’s unlikely that the Court will overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, but the decision could narrow protections for LGBTQ+ rights in certain contexts.
Regardless of the outcome, the Respect for Marriage Act (2022) guarantees that same-sex marriages remain legally recognized at both the federal and state levels—even if Obergefell were ever revisited.
