Reports from the United States show a significant increase in LGBTQIA+ couples rushing to marry, driven by concerns that marriage equality could face challenges under Donald Trump’s second term.
The surge follows Trump’s November 2024 re-election and reflects growing fears that the conservative Supreme Court might overturn the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalised same-sex marriage nationwide.
New York City’s Clerk’s Office reported 8,537 marriage license appointments in November 2024, a 33% increase compared to the same period the previous year. The week following the election saw a 55% spike in appointments, with numbers staying above average for the rest of the month before normalising in December.
Although the city doesn’t track the genders of those marrying, anecdotal evidence strongly suggests LGBTQIA+ couples are driving the increase.
“We already fought for it. I don’t want to have to do it again,” Ryan Addario told LGBTQ Nation after marrying his partner at Manhattan’s Marriage Bureau. “I just didn’t want to have any potential obstacles.”
Trump’s stance on marriage equality has changed over the years. In the early days of his political career, he made it clear he was no ally to LGBTQIA+ rights. Back in 2011, he stated, “I’m not in favour of gay marriage,” a declaration as unsurprising as the Vogons destroying Earth to clear the way for a hyperspace bypass.
By 2016, however, Trump’s tone had shifted—or at least softened. During his presidential campaign, he referred to the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision as “settled” and stated that he was “fine with that.” The change was reminiscent of Ford Prefect suddenly deciding that Earth, despite all its chaos, might not be so bad after all.
As uncertainty grows, communities are rallying to help LGBTQIA+ couples secure their unions. In Iowa, Chaplain Anitta Milloro has connected dozens of couples with vendors offering free wedding services.
“There’s only so long that I can sit in suffering before I have to roll up my sleeves and do something,” Milloro told KCCI, a Des Moines news station. “We take care of ourselves. That’s what we’ve had to do, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
Milloro also created an interactive map titled “For A Time Such As This,” which provides resources like officiants, photographers, and legal services such as medical power of attorney and living wills. Volunteers from nearly every state have joined the initiative, stepping up to support their communities.
Could Marriage Equality Be Overturned?
The 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling remains a milestone for LGBTQIA+ rights, but fears of its reversal persist. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have openly criticised the decision, with Alito expressing concerns that those with “traditional religious views” might be unfairly labelled as bigots.
Some reassurance comes from the Respect for Marriage Act, signed by President Joe Biden in December 2022. This law requires federal and state governments to recognise same-sex marriages performed in states where they remain legal, including Iowa, New York, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.
For now, couples like Addario and his husband are taking no chances, choosing to act while their rights remain secure. The rush to the altar reflects both the resilience and determination of LGBTQIA+ communities and the continued importance of collective action in the face of political uncertainty.
