Ten Years Post Obergefell, What Have We Learned?
As we approach the ten-year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court case that mandated all states recognize and protect same-sex marriage, I recall learning at just 12 years old that nine unelected justices had determined for every state that two men or two women had a constitutional right to marry each other—overriding the decisions and sovereignty of voters and lawmakers across the country. At the time, it seemed absurd to think that marriage—an institution established by God for the benefit of mankind and as a representation of His love for the Church—could be redefined to encompass any form of sexual behavior, regardless of its effects on society as a whole.
Many conservative evangelicals strongly warned of the dangers of disconnecting marriage from its biblical foundation and centuries of tradition, arguing it was a reckless social experiment. Yet, these concerns were often dismissed as fearmongering, with critics accusing them of spreading baseless conspiracy theories rather than acknowledging the potential cultural implications.
Ten years later, we are now beginning to witness the societal repercussions of this landmark decision. What was once dismissed as alarmist is increasingly becoming reality. The argument that 'love is love' justifies marriage lacks a limiting principle, much like saying 'water is water' does not justify drinking from a swimming pool. The redefinition of marriage has opened the door to a litany of unintended consequences, confirming many of the warnings raised by evangelicals who foresaw the erosion of marriage’s foundational meaning and its broader impact on society. Studies consistently show that children raised in households with both a mother and father are more likely to excel academically, emotionally, and socially, underscoring the unique benefits of traditional marriage for families and communities.
What was once considered fringe just ten years ago is now widely accepted as normal, while what was normal a decade ago is often met with harsh social and legal consequences. Christians who refuse to abandon their convictions and follow the cultural tide have faced significant real-life penalties:
Kim Davis, a county clerk in Kentucky, was jailed and fined $260,000 for refusing to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple.
Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cake Shop in Colorado, continues to be harassed and sued by activists for declining to create cakes celebrating same-sex weddings or gender transitions.
Barronelle Stutzman, a 76-year-old florist from Washington State, was sued by the state's attorney general for refusing to design floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding, despite having served the customer for years.
Recently, the media has fixated on promoting polyamory, with major outlets like The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Time Magazine all publishing glowing articles on the practice. For those unfamiliar, polyamory involves engaging in multiple intimate relationships simultaneously, with the full knowledge and consent of all parties involved. This media push represents the next phase in society’s effort to normalize behaviors once thought to be regressive for a civilization that had moved beyond the hedonistic debauchery of Ancient Roman and Greek sexual ethics.
Obergefell opened the floodgates. Just ten years ago, traditional marriage was still respected and upheld by law in many states. Now, parents risk losing custody of their children for refusing to consent to gender transition surgeries. Public school students are being exposed to explicit content, including lessons on same-sex relations. Corporate media giants, like Disney, actively push overtly sexual themes to younger audiences, with actors from its latest Marvel TV show even touting it as a 'gay explosion' of LGBT content. It's easy to lose sight of how swiftly and dramatically cultural standards have shifted in the past decade, but we must not overlook the profound impact of these changes.
As we reflect on the ten years since Obergefell v. Hodges, it is clear that the decision not only redefined marriage but also set the stage for a wider cultural transformation. What was once seen as a fringe issue has become mainstream, and the ripple effects continue to spread. The consequences we are witnessing today—a weakened understanding of marriage, the erosion of parental rights, and the relentless push to normalize behaviors far outside traditional norms—can in many ways be traced back to this ruling.
Ten years after Obergefell, we've learned that the slippery slope once warned about was all too real. As we accelerate down this slope, one cannot help but wonder what it will take to halt the free fall and reinstitute respect for biblical marriage and sexual morality. Looking ahead, we must stand unwaveringly for truth, renew our commitment to traditional marriage, and work to rebuild the cultural foundations that have been eroded by a post-modern assault on God’s design for marriage.
