Still fighting for ‘I Do’

By Chiara Santopietro

A Washington DC protest. (Photo: CNN)

ON JUNE 26th, 2015, gay marriage became legal in the United States following the

Supreme Court’s landmark Obergefell vs. Hodges decision. This superseded previous laws that had banned LGBTQ+ marriage in the majority of the country. The new decision allowed for all states to license and recognize same-sex marriage, granting millions of couples the right to love each other openly and proudly.

Since 2015, LGBTQ+ couples across the country have been publicly able to celebrate

their relationships, especially with the rise of parades and festivals in June, which is nationally considered “Pride Month”. Many safe spaces for people in the community have also become more popular, with gay bars, clubs, and support groups popping up all around the country.

However, the community still faces uncertainty regarding marriage laws even today.

In July 2025, Kim Davis, a Kentucky clerk who was jailed for refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, appealed her verdict to the Supreme Court. Davis claimed that granting the licenses would violate the First Amendment, as her religion would not permit her to do so. This marks the first time since 2015 that the Supreme Court has been formally asked to overturn their Obergefell decision.

A news report on the LGBTQ+ state of emergency. (Image credit: CBS News)

Across the country, there have been movements to strike down gay marriage, with several states even presenting legislation that would put restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community. Since President Trump was elected, the amount of anti-gay legislation has increased tremendously. This has sparked mass fear and frustration for members of the community.

Aaliyah Clark, a second-year Mount student, stated, “I have a lot of friends that are gay and I know that a lot of their lives will be affected because some people choose to live more openly than I do.

"However, I still think it will affect me in the future because if I do choose to marry a woman or be more open with my sexuality, I’ll have to live in fear of the legal repercussions of loving who I want to love.”

For the first time ever, the Human Rights Campaign has announced a national state of

emergency for Americans in the LGBTQ+ community. This means that across the country, the rights of LGBTQ+ people are no longer considered safe, and that discrimination between citizens has amped up to an unprecedented degree.

The HRC mentioned that over 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been signed into law in 2025 alone, which more than doubled the amount of bills signed in 2024. The attacks on LGBTQ+ rights by the government have put the community in severe danger, and has caused Americans to become more divided than ever.

The government’s actions have not been lost on American citizens. Many people are

outraged at the legislation and propositions being passed recently, leading to nationwide protests and civil unrest. Across the country, Americans have been engaging in “No Kings” protests, in which they aim to keep democracy in power and prevent tyranny. In response to this, the government has slandered protesters and vowed to amp up the restrictions on their rights.

On the actions of those in power, second year Mount student Grace Hill said, “It is shameful that the government would rather outlaw love than recognize their own hateful ways”.

Another anonymous first-year Mount student quoted, “It’s unfair that because of the beliefs of those who are more powerful than marginalized communities, we should have to live in fear.”

Even with all of the uncertainty and trepidation happening in the country right now,

there’s still hope for those in the LGBTQ+ community. As of right now, same-sex marriage is still legal, and there are several support groups and resources for members of the community.

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ individuals, is available 24/7 for people to reach a counselor if they are in crisis. The organization also provides individuals with outside resources if they need mental health support, and even has an online chat forum for people to befriend others in the community. In addition to The Trevor Project, there are various other chat forums and online communities where LGBTQ+ individuals can support each other.

GLAAD.org has a list of resources for people in the community on their website, which includes legal resources, healthcare information, and resources for allies and families of LGBTQ+ people. As of October 20th, 2025, these resources are readily available for 24/7 online access.