A significant majority of Americans continue to back same-sex marriage, even as the US Supreme Court prepares to consider a case that could threaten the landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
A new study commissioned by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) shows that 65.8 per cent of Americans support the right of same-sex couples to marry, with 36.2 per cent expressing strong support for maintaining current legal protections. In contrast, 34.3 per cent oppose same-sex marriage, and only 16.1 per cent said they strongly oppose it.
Personal Connections Drive Support
According to HRC, non-LGBTQ+ Americans are twice as likely to support marriage equality if they personally know someone who is LGBTQ+.
The report also identifies political ideology as the most consistent predictor of views on marriage equality. Among conservatives, 52.8 per cent said they oppose same-sex marriage protections, while 48.3 per cent support them—a narrow gap of just 4.5 per cent, underscoring a country divided on ideological lines.
Supreme Court to Consider Case That Could Undermine Equality
The findings were released as the US Supreme Court decides whether to hear a high-stakes case that could impact marriage equality. The case was brought by former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who previously refused to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples, citing her religious beliefs.
Davis is seeking to overturn a previous decision by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that her religious objections did not exempt her from performing her duties as a government official. The justices are expected to consider her petition privately on Friday, 7 November.
While serving as Rowan County clerk, Davis defied a federal court order by denying a marriage licence to David Moore and David Ermold, a same-sex couple, even after the Obergefell ruling made same-sex marriage legal nationwide. She claimed she was acting under “God’s authority”.
Potential Nationwide Impact
If the Court agrees to take on the case, it could have broad implications for marriage equality across the US. Advocates warn that revisiting Obergefell could destabilise rights that millions of Americans now rely on.
LGBTQ+ Community Wary of the Court
Confidence in the US Supreme Court varies widely between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ Americans. Only 34.6 per cent of LGBTQ+ adults expressed strong confidence in the Court, compared to 61.2 per cent of non-LGBTQ+ adults. Overall, 58.9 per cent of US adults have a great deal of confidence in the Court, while 41.1 per cent express little trust.
HRC president Kelley Robinson criticised the case as a “paper-thin attempt to undermine marriage equality and the dignity of LGBTQ+ people.”
“Marriage equality isn’t just the law of the land – it’s woven into the fabric of American life,” she said. “For more than a decade, millions of LGBTQ+ couples have gotten married, built families, and contributed to their communities.”
Robinson added that extremist efforts, like Davis’s, are a “cynical opportunity to attack our families and relegate what’s already settled.”
Same-Sex Marriage by the Numbers
According to the Williams Institute, over 820,000 same-sex couples are married in the United States. Separate research from August 2025 shows that 59 per cent of LGBTQ+ adults hope to marry at some point in their lives.
