Imagine my surprise when I’m driving back to school and my dad calls me to say, “The Supreme Court refused to overturn Obergefell!” I’ve been so wrapped up in school, I didn’t even know that was something to worry about. I mean, can queer people catch a break? I feel like every week there’s something new from President Donald Trump attacking different minority groups. Thankfully, my dad informed me that we’ve finally got some good news.
On Monday, Nov. 10, the Supreme Court declined to revisit its decision on the legalization of gay marriage. Phew. As if life wasn’t already stressful enough, I did not want to think about the possibility of not being able to marry someone I love.
Kim Davis, former Kentucky clerk, has spent years opposing the Supreme Court’s decision on Obergefell v. Hodges. Davis was the one who attempted to challenge the court’s ruling, but the court declined her petition without comment. Why is some Kentucky woman who does not currently hold a position in her state’s government serving an opinion no one ordered?
She was actually jailed for refusing to issue a same-sex marriage license in 2015. A jury also ordered her to pay $360,000 to a couple she refused to marry, according to reporting by NPR.
Bigots like Davis are why queer individuals like me cannot exist peacefully. Instead of conservative politicians minding their own business or putting forth positive legislation, they put all their negative energy into attacking minority groups. I often wonder why my dating choices concern people I’ve never met but I doubt I’ll ever get a sufficient enough answer.
While this feels like a win, I am still not confident in our Supreme Court given the previous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, as well as Justice Clarence Thomas’s suggestions to reconsider other cases, including Obergefell.
With all of Trump’s anti-diversity, equity and inclusion policies, many students are in fear of being outed to homophobic parents. His goal is to paint a picture-perfect U.S. on the outside while cherry-picking what can and cannot be taught in public schools and aiming to erase the U.S.’s diverse background. His efforts to torment minorities do not go unnoticed.
We can celebrate a win for love (this time) but we must not let it distract us from the rest of the chaos unfolding within our country, especially when our rights are being attacked on all fronts. This is not the first time we have fought for our rights and it will certainly not be the last. But hey, maybe with all this Trump and Bill Clinton nonsense, conservatives might just change their minds on queer people.
Madelyn Marabella can be contacted at
mmarabella@kscequinox.com
