The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal that directly challenged the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, effectively reinforcing the protection established by the landmark 2015 Obergefell ruling.
The appeal was brought forward by Kim Davis, the former county clerk in Kentucky who gained national attention after refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her personal Christian religious beliefs.
Davis was previously ordered to pay substantial damages to a gay couple whom she had denied a license, and her petition sought to overturn that damages award as well as the 2015 precedent.
The conservative-dominated court, which currently holds a 6-3 majority, rejected the case without offering any explanation for its decision, a standard practice. The appeal had generated anxiety within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly after the court’s recent decision three years ago that struck down the constitutional right to abortion, leading to speculation that the marriage ruling might also be vulnerable to reversal. Accepting the case would have required a minimum of four justices to vote in favor of hearing the appeal.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy group, expressed strong approval of the court’s refusal to grant the appeal.
In a statement, HRC president Kelley Robinson celebrated the outcome: “Today, love won again,” she announced. Robinson emphasized the duty of public servants to all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation. “When public officials take an oath to serve their communities, that promise extends to everyone —- including LGBTQ+ people,” Robinson said.
She concluded by underscoring the legal consequences for officials who attempt to obstruct established rights, stating, “The Supreme Court made clear today that refusing to respect the constitutional rights of others does not come without consequences.”
