Supreme Court rejects challenge to legalisation of same-sex marriage

November 10, 2025

The US Supreme Court declined to reconsider its 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide after rejecting an appeal from Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk. Davis had refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on her religious beliefs and was subsequently ordered to pay $360,000 in damages to a couple whose rights she violated. Lower courts ruled that Davis could not use her personal religious convictions to deny constitutional rights to others while serving as an elected official.

Who is affected

Kim Davis (former Rowan County clerk ordered to pay damages)
David Ermold and David Moore (same-sex couple who sued Davis)
Same-sex couples seeking to marry in the United States
LGBTQ rights advocates
Religious conservatives and liberty groups (such as Liberty Counsel)
The broader American public with interests in same-sex marriage and religious freedom issues

What action is being taken

Kim Davis is required to pay $360,000 in damages to the same-sex couple
The Supreme Court is declining to hear Davis's appeal

Why it matters

This decision affirms that the constitutional right to same-sex marriage established in Obergefell v Hodges remains settled law, even with the Supreme Court's current conservative majority. It clarifies that government officials cannot use personal religious beliefs to deny citizens their constitutional rights while performing official duties. The ruling has significant implications for the balance between religious liberty and civil rights protections, demonstrating that despite conservative hopes for reversal following the abortion precedent overturn, same-sex marriage rights remain protected under federal law.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC