One decade after the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage across the nation, public support for the landmark decision remains robust. Gallup data shows that 68% of Americans support the ruling, which was announced in 2015. Although this figure is consistent with recent years, the support has become increasingly polarized along partisan lines, with Democrats at 88% and Republicans at a historic low of 41%
The decision was a turning point in the recognition of same-sex marriage, making the U.S. the 17th country to legalize it. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over three-quarters of a million same-sex couples are now married in the country. The case centered on whether state bans on same-sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that the right to marry is a fundamental right and that state bans were unconstitutional.
Gallup polling, conducted May 1-18, indicates that while public support for same-sex marriage has remained relatively stable between 68% and 71% between 2021 and now, partisan attitudes have shifted significantly. The partisan gap has widened to its largest point, reflecting the divergence in views between Democrats and Republicans. The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, has become a prominent voice in the movement to overturn the ruling. Last week, they passed a resolution calling for the Supreme Court to reconsider the Obergefell decision, adding to the momentum of conservative calls to revisit the ruling.
The religious and political dimensions of this debate are evident in the evolving attitudes. While 88% of Democrats, a new high in Gallup polling, consider gay or lesbian relationships to be morally acceptable, only 38% of Republicans hold this view, their lowest level since 2012. This divergence has fueled ongoing discussions about the legal and ethical implications of the ruling. As debates continue, the issue of same-sex marriage remains a deeply polarizing topic within American society, further intensifying the partisan divide.