Kim Davis—the Kentucky county clerk jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple—has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking justices to revisit and reverse the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Davis and her legal team argue that her religious freedom rights were violated and claim the Obergefell ruling was a "legal fiction." They’re pushing for the high court to correct what they view as a constitutional misstep.
Why It Matters Now
This marks the first serious legal challenge to the Obergefell ruling in a decade—an echo of concerns over the stability of established civil rights.
Alongside this petition, conservative lawmakers in several states are passing symbolic resolutions and introducing “covenant marriage” bills—moves seen as part of a coordinated strategy to rollback LGBTQ+ progress.
Although the Respect for Marriage Act still protects same-sex marriages at the federal level, advocates warn that continued legal and political pressure could undermine long-term security for these rights.
