Marriage Equality: What to Know and Do 

Marriage equality has been protected nationwide by the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. A recent petition from Kim Davis—the former county clerk who refused marriage licenses to same-sex couples—asks the Court to revisit that ruling. 

What to know: 

  • The Supreme Court has not yet decided if it will hear Kim Davis’ case. The case involves a specific and narrow legal issue, and it would be highly unusual for the Supreme Court to take it up. 
  • The Court takes less than 1% of the cases it is asked to review. 
  • The case for marriage equality is stronger than ever and bipartisan public support for equality remains high. 
  • While a handful of state legislators introduced resolutions in 2025 calling for Obergefell to be overturned – every single one of them failed, some without even reaching a hearing. 
  • The Respect for Marriage Act enshrined respect for marriages under state and federal law. 
  • We are prepared to defend marriage equality in court. We have never taken our eye off the ball, and we never will. 
  • Panic can impede action. Instead, stay engaged. 

What you can do: 

  • Share how marriage equality has impacted you, your family, or your community. Help build understanding for why the freedom to marry is so important. 
  • Have honest conversations with others about your family and theirs. Listen with patience and grace.   
  • Meet people where they are, without judgment, and share why marriage equality matters to you, your parents, your kids, grandkids, or neighbors – and why it’s good for communities. 
  • Stay aware of what your local, state, and US representatives are saying and doing about marriage, families, and other important issues.  Your letters and calls make a difference. 
  • Run for office everywhere.  Pro-equality forces need to be everywhere and at every level of government. 
  • If you’re an attorney, join GLAD Law’s Lawyer Referral Service to help provide legal support on LGBTQ+ issues to thousands in need. 
  • If you are worried, there are steps you can take to protect your marriage and family.  
Jim Obergefell and Mary L. Bonauto speak to press outside of the U.S. Supreme Court
GLAD Law’s Mary Bonauto with Jim Obergefell at the Supreme Court

The decades-long fight for marriage equality worked because we found common ground on why marriage equality matters so deeply – why it is good for everyone, regardless of who they are or who they love.   

We accomplished this not by walking away from those who weren’t yet with us, but by engaging with a diversity of people who held a wide range of beliefs – discovering shared values and mutual understanding along the way.  

This is hard work – and it remains essential to preserving our freedoms.  

We’re in this together, and together we will protect marriage equality and advance dignity, respect, and security for LGBTQ+ people across all areas of life.