Ten Years of Gay Marriage: Will the Supreme Court Revisit This?
How the Supreme Court Redefined Marriage
In June of 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples had a constitutional right to marry. This decision struck down state laws that had defined marriage as only between one man and one woman. For many, it was celebrated as a civil rights victory. But to others, it was a blow to the very foundation of marriage itself.
Chief Justice John Roberts, in his dissent, warned that the Court’s decision was a mistake because it bypassed the will of the people. He said, “Stealing this issue from the people will for many cast a cloud over same-sex marriage, making a dramatic social change that much more difficult to accept.” To critics, Obergefell was not about equality but about the Court imposing a radical social change that undermined the natural and religious meaning of marriage.
What Public Opinion Looked Like at the Time
Public opinion on same-sex marriage shifted rapidly in the years leading up to Obergefell. In 1996, Gallup found that just 27% of Americans supported it. By 2004, when President George W. Bush ran for reelection, 11 states passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage, and exit polls showed that only about one-quarter of Americans supported legalizing it. Even in 2008, California voters approved Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage in their state.
When the Supreme Court made its ruling in 2015, the country was still divided. Support had only recently crossed the majority mark. Critics argued that redefining marriage in this way ignored the central role of children, family structure, and faith.
A Nation That Flipped in a Decade
Today, nearly 70% of Americans say they support same-sex marriage, according to Gallup. But this overall number hides deep divisions. Democrats’ support has climbed to 88%, and independents remain steady at 76%. Republicans, however, have shifted in the opposite direction. Support among Republicans dropped from a majority of 55% in 2021 and 2022 to just 41% this year, the lowest level since 2016. Gallup called this the “largest gap between Republicans and Democrats” on the issue since polling began nearly three decades ago.
On the moral question, Gallup found that 64% of Americans say same-sex relations are morally acceptable. Yet here again, partisans are moving in opposite directions. Eighty-six percent of Democrats agree, while only 38% of Republicans do, the lowest level for that group since 2012.
Religious Pushback and the Southern Baptist Resolution
Signs of a backlash are emerging. At their 2025 national meeting, Southern Baptist delegates overwhelmingly approved a resolution that called for “the overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God’s design for marriage and family.” The resolution further urged legislators to pass laws that affirm marriage between one man and one woman.
Andrew Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, admitted that repealing Obergefell would be difficult, but said the denomination must push forward anyway. “I am clear-eyed about the difficulties and the headwinds in this resolution,” he told reporters, but he also emphasized that Obergefell was a “flawed decision” that Christians should resist.
The Kim Davis Appeal and Religious Liberty
Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who was jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is now directly asking the Court to overturn Obergefell. In her appeal filed in July, she argued that her case is about protecting religious freedom. “If ever there was a case of exceptional importance, the first individual in the Republic’s history who was jailed for following her religious convictions regarding the historic definition of marriage, this should be it,” she told the justices.
Her case has become a rallying point for those who believe Obergefell trampled both the Constitution and the traditional understanding of marriage.
Warnings From the Court Itself
The possibility of Obergefell being overturned is not far-fetched. When the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022, Justice Clarence Thomas specifically wrote that the Court “should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents,” naming Obergefell among them. Justice Samuel Alito has also been openly critical of the 2015 decision.
The ideological makeup of the Court is different from a decade ago. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion in Obergefell, has since retired. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, another supporter of same-sex marriage, has also been replaced. Both were succeeded by more conservative justices. For opponents of Obergefell, this shift raises the possibility of a future reversal.
Supporters of same-sex marriage insist that the ruling has strengthened families. Mary Bonauto, one of the attorneys who argued the Obergefell case, said the decision was “transformative for so many people to be able to have a family that is recognized as a family under law.” She pointed to tax filing, health insurance, and adoption rights as examples of protections made possible by the ruling.
But even Bonauto admits that continued vigilance is needed. “That optimism also rests on continued vigilance since there are those who seek to undo it,” she said.
Critics argue that Obergefell stripped marriage of its true purpose. They see marriage as designed to unite men and women for the sake of family and society, not simply as a contract between individuals for personal recognition. To them, Obergefell was an attack on regular marriage, replacing a child-centered institution with an adult-centered one.
The cultural consequences are now being felt in debates over gender and family life. Religious conservatives argue that Obergefell opened the door to further distortions of moral truth. As one Southern Baptist leader explained, the goal must be “renewed moral clarity in public discourse regarding the crisis of declining fertility and for policies that support the bearing and raising of children within intact, married families.”
Ten years after the Supreme Court blessed same-sex marriage, the nation remains deeply divided. While public opinion seems settled, the political and religious undercurrents tell a different story. For millions of Americans, Obergefell was never legitimate, and the hope of overturning it has not gone away.
The future of marriage in America now depends not only on polls and public opinion but on the willingness of lawmakers, judges, and religious leaders to defend what they call God’s design for family. For those who believe marriage can only be between a man and a woman, the fight is far from over.
PB Editor: I would not have believed that anyone would challenge gay marriage after the Supreme Court made this ruling. And Trump has not indicated any particular preference for or against gay marriage. But many did indeed expect it, and the rumblings are there. Not sure where this will go, but the journey has not yet ended.
Dunger wouldn’t like that
Barrydunger; again, wtf do you even mean? You’re the one always trying to get chummy with me? I feel pursued but must ask you to stand down and find yourself another fellow to go dunger with. Not my style, tis yours it seems.
Divorce is greater among lesbian couples than any other including homosexual and heterosexual. The problem is same-sex “marriages” fail to give the kids involved a real balance in life. Family life is critical for young kids and our society has made it a point to destroy our youth it seems. Factually proven kids do best in a home with both Mother and Dad present. Dan’s and Dad nor Mom and Mom do nearly as well. Same sex unions are indeed all about the sex. Nothing more, nothing less. Time for same sex “marriage” to end and work on establishing and re-enforcing traditional marriage before we lose any more kids to self-destructive behavior.
JD, leave those gays alone…..especially if you sport that picture. I mean, young, smartly dressed, well-manicured, —– if you’re thin, you’re in!!! Just kidding, but takes a brave man to post his pic around here. Just you and Larry…..
You are right about lesbians and no one knows why. Weird.
But male couples do better than mixed couples in many and most studies. That’s weird too. And I would think you, of all people, would know that.
Outcomes for kids cannot be proved plus or minus, seems about the same, according to most studies. Sorry. My heart says you are right, the data seems to say we are both wrong. I think it’s worthy of more study to determine the truth.
I do believe in family and that outcome depends on the people —- all of them. As far as balance in life, shove it. You really don’t know and your feelings mean little except that you have a bug up your ass over gays.
“Factually proven kids do best in a home with both mother and Dad present. Dan’s and Dad nor Mom and Mom do nearly as well.” Prove it, “factually.” Look hard cuz pretty sure I can prove the other side as well. I do agree and feel family is better than single, on average, but I really don’t know. What I do know is to judge each person, or family, on their own merits, based on words, deeds, and actions. Many of my gay friends have exemplary families.
“Same sex unions are indeed all about the sex. Nothing more, nothing less.” This is crazy talk. You were rational up to this point. Are you speaking from experience as a jilted gay man? I doubt it, but really —– how would you know? Plus, you are so wrong.
Look, to me and many others, most of this is about being fair in our rules, regs, taxes and such to all couples. Gays could be married without the State and this is all about the State sanctioning marriages for purposes of the States, i.e benefits. Maybe you like to treat people unequally, but not for me thank you very much. And if you are measuring this way, it appears that gay men have more stable marriages than mixed couples, so what’s that mean: end typical marriage benefits? Other than that, please keep to yourself and stay out of other people’s bedrooms. Stay out of our pants. Keep your freakin hands off my wallet. As The Doors sang: “People are strange,” each in their own way. Even you and I. Embrace diversity. Fight for equality under our laws. And, most important, have fun!!!
Dunger it’s a terrible thing that fags can even raise children. And you believe that it’s ok to live a pervert lifestyle in the presents of kids? Will grooming kids to be fags make them better people, someone must have tossed your salad.
Willie, my name here is Frank Danger. Unless you suck dog dicks in hell, you should call me by my name. Your choice.
Do you call your gay conservatives perverts and fags? Do they groom your kids, make them fags? Peter Theil, who owns JD Vance and has Trump at his beck and call is gay. He donated millions to Trump. There’s always cross dresser Lady Maga…. Caitlyn Jenner said that if Trump did not win the 2024 elections, “I think that’s the end of the country” just like Willie no doubt. Birds of a feather and all. Mark Foley, FL Republican Congressman, gay, and goes after minors. Not the coal kind either. He’s in Willie’s party…..
In 2017, Angelo said that Trump was “the most pro-LGBT Republican president in history,” despite Trump’s many anti-LGBTQ+ policies. In 2020, Angelo served as the spokesman for the White House Office of Drug Control Policy under Trump. Oh yeah, gay. Mehlman, RNC chair, gay.
In 2018, President Trump appointed gay Grenell as the U.S. ambassador to Germany. Grenell became the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ person in the Trump administration. German officials opposed Grenell’s ambassadorship and largely shunned him as a conservative meddler. When Trump named him the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in 2020, Grenell became the first out gay man to hold a Cabinet-level position. Gay, gay, gay. Grenell said: “President Trump is the most pro-gay president in American history” Since Trump policy is anti-LGBTQ, I wonder what “pro-gay” means?
The Trump government is full of gays; they hold the highest and most powerful positions.
Haters gotta hate. I spell my name: danger, and frank truth shoots fools down every time
Willie has nothing to fear from gays; trust me, they don’t want to get close to the guy. Pervs, well, that’s another story.
Temper tantrums are fun when commies get pissed. So Dunger spends time researching queers in the government. Hmmm. Ok Dunger. I’m asking you to come out of the closet.
Seth, my name here is frank danger. Unless you have a pygmy prick, call me by my name.
Because I researched Willie’s and JD’s issues, you conclude I am a closeted gay.
What does that say about you and your interests?
The fact I have gay friends, work with gays is probably no different than you. As you can see, gays are found throughout your party, your state, and even your neighborhood. While I don’t think nor care about your gayness or lack thereof, I’m guessing your better half is strongly thinking about changing teams after being with you. Heh, heh.
You guys and your fascination with what happens in other people’s bedrooms is a mysterious phenomenon to me. I could care less. Keep on dreaming. After all, Seth is the number four popular gay name.
Religion is suffering from the lack of moral values the practice of same sex marriage has instilled in the minds of our young population. A young boy is given hormones and continually are called a girl which they are not. It is all artificial and when they are serialized it is too late. The majority of those making those decisions are made by unqualified teachers or other administrators who should never be near young children. This is one of the reasons our population is declining.as well as belief in God!