The Supreme Court Keeps Same-Sex Marriage Rights Intact

The Supreme Court recently made a decision that kept same-sex marriage legal in the United States. This decision came after a lot of worry from LGBTQ advocates. They were scared the court might change its mind about same-sex marriage.

Court's Decision and Kim Davis' Appeal

The court did not take a case from Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk. She refused to give marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Because of this, she had to pay a lot of money in damages and legal fees. The court did not explain why it said no to her appeal.

Changes in the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court looks very different now than it did in 2015. Back then, it decided that same-sex couples have the right to marry. The court is now more conservative. This change has made many people nervous. They fear the court might take away rights it gave before.

Three current justices were against same-sex marriage when the court first decided on it. One of them, Justice Anthony Kennedy, wrote the original decision. He retired in 2018. His spot was taken by a more conservative justice.

Impact of the 2015 Decision

When the Supreme Court first decided on same-sex marriage, it was a big deal. Many people celebrated. The White House even lit up in rainbow colors. Since then, nearly 600,000 same-sex couples have gotten married.

But not everyone was happy. Some conservatives saw it as a bad thing. They thought it would cause problems with religion. Kim Davis is one of those people. She said her religious beliefs stopped her from giving out marriage licenses. Because of this, she was sued. A jury made her pay $360,000. She was also put in jail for a few days.

Ongoing Debates and Concerns

Some people think the Supreme Court should change its mind about same-sex marriage. But others say it should not. They think the court should respect its own past decisions.

The court has recently made some decisions that worry LGBTQ rights groups. For example, it allowed states to ban certain medical treatments for trans youth. It also allowed the government to bar transgender people from serving in the military. These decisions make people wonder what the court will do next.

Future of LGBTQ Rights

The Supreme Court's decision not to hear Kim Davis' appeal does not set a new rule. If another case comes up, the court will look at it differently. This means the fight for LGBTQ rights is not over. People will keep watching to see what the court does next.